Drama Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Drama

Group of young men in school uniforms standing together.
Review

The Penguin Lessons review – think Dead Penguins Society

by David Jenkins

Steve Coogan co-stars with a penguin in this gentle dramedy from Peter Cattaneo that never quite matches up to the true story.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Cluttered interior of a van, with a woman sitting on a couch and a man standing. Varied colours and shapes, with items scattered throughout the space.
Review

Caught by the Tides review – moving, stirring, brilliant

by Esther Rosenfield

Jia Zhangke’s first feature in six years is a sweeping epic anchored by the captivating Zhao Tao, his muse and most frequent collaborator.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two men in period attire - one in a blue cap, the other in a cowboy hat - stand next to a vintage car in a rural setting.
Review

Sinners review – links the past and present with music and blood

by Kambole Campbell

Finally free from the Marvel machine, Ryan Coogler delivers the goods and then some with his music-powered, genre-splicing latest.

3
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Three young men riding on a red tractor in a rural, green landscape.
Review

Holy Cow review – a bittersweet treat

by Alex Hopkins-McQuillan

Louise Courvoisier crafts a moving tale about cheese-making and coming of age, set in the rural French region of Jura.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Bearded man and woman embrace passionately, their faces close together.
Review

The Return review – skirts on the am-dram

by David Jenkins

Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche star as Odysseus and Penelope in Uberto Pasolini’s retelling of Homer’s epic.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A young man wearing a white shirt and braces, reading a book while standing on a beach.
Review

Mr Burton review – elevated by a dynamic performance

by Lucy Peters

A gentle, fictionalised foray into stage and screen legend Richard Burton’s Welsh childhood.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A close-up portrait of a young man with short brown hair, a thoughtful expression, and piercing blue eyes.
Review

Sebastian review – bland character study

by Marina Ashioti

A young, London-based writer begins a double life as a sex worker in Mikko Mäkelä’s queer psychological drama.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Family gathered around digital tablet, looking contemplative.
Review

Four Mothers review – canny crowd-pleaser

by Mike McCahill

Darren Thornton’s remake of Mid-August Lunch sees a novelist on the brink of breaking out tasked with caring for his ailing mother and her friends.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A woman with dark hair and eyes, wearing a patterned blue and yellow blouse, sitting on cushions against a background of red and beige patterns.
Review

Last Swim review – fresh blood in British film!

by Rógan Graham

A‑Level results day gives way to a compelling look at late teenhood in Sasha Nathani’s London-set debut feature.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A person dressed in a long black cloak standing in a field, with a wooden building in the background.
Review

The Woman in the Yard review – forgettable ghostly horror

by Hannah Strong

A grieving family find themselves with an unwanted house guest in the latest underwhelming thriller from journeyman director Jaume Collet-Serra.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect