Ilkley Cinema

Crawl, The Souvenir, Mrs Lowry and Son, Pain and Glory

DURING a category 5 hurricane, Crawl tells the story of a young woman as she attempts to save her father but finds herself trapped in a flooding house fighting for her life against floodwater freed alligators. Kaya Scodelario thrives in this action-packed creature feature that’s fast-paced and toe-curling-ly terrifying. An American disaster horror with just enough realism to ground it in reality but enough flare to maintain its entertainment all the way through. A film with remnants of the ‘Jaws’ era of horror, it’s simple concept is focussed and well executed, resulting in a chilling feature, guaranteed to keep you on the very edge of your seat.

Set in the 1980s, a shy, privileged film student begins finding her voice as an artist while navigating a turbulent courtship with a charismatic but untrustworthy man. The Souvenir is written and directed by Joanna Hogg, who is completely in command of her craft, and superbly acted by Honor Swinton alongside her mother Tilda Swinton. The result is a masterclass in naturalistic storytelling which tackles the intricacies of personal relationships beside the tricky underworld of class and privilege. An elegant drama which accurately captures the struggle between finding yourself and navigating your way through relationships and the wider world, The Souvenir is a captivating coming-of-age film that’s uniquely impactful and emotionally intelligent.

Art imitates life in Pedro Almodóvar’s semi-autobiographical, nostalgic and personal film. It follows the story of a film director as he reflects on the choices made throughout his life and career as his past and present begin to crash down around him. Thought provoking and emotionally intimate, Almodóvar’s latest film engages in the personal struggles of a life of artistry and what truly matters as it comes to a close.

Adrian Noble captures the infinite difficulties of pursuing your passion as he paints a heartfelt portrait of one of our nations most beloved artists, L.S Lowry. Back for its second week, audiences are given the chance to experience the intimate and amusing story of the brittle yet vital relationship between Lowry and his bedridden mother. Plagued by the harsh realities of life, she tries to dissuade him from continuing his artistry in place of a more practical life choice, the pair woefully separated by art and ambition. Engrossing and entertaining, Mrs Lowry & Son explores the sadness, loneliness and isolation of life as a wallflower and the drive of true passion. But it’s not without its more light-hearted amusement as Vanessa Redgrave and Timothy Spall offer up a masterclass in the art of acting. An engaging and fascinating story into the tragically isolated life of the artist, Mrs Lowry & Son offers an insight into the lonely path of passion.

Melissa Johns-Watson