On Falling is a 2024 British-Portuguese social drama film written and directed by Laura Carreira (in her directorial debut feature) starring Joana Santos.

On Falling
Directed byLaura Carreira
Written byLaura Carreira
StarringJoana Santos
CinematographyKarl Kürten
Edited byHelle Le Fevre
Music byInes Adriana
Production
companies
  • Sixteen Films
  • Bro Cinema
Release date
  • September 2024 (2024-09) (TIFF)
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • Portugal
Languages
  • English
  • Portuguese

Plot

edit

Set in Scotland, the plot follows the plight of Portuguese immigrant and warehouse worker Aurora, trapped in a life governed by wage slavery and social isolation in Glasgow, depicting her emotional breakdown.[1][2][3]

Production

edit

The film is a British-Portuguese co-production by Sixteen Films and Bro Cinema, and it had support from BFI, BBC Film, Screen Scotland and ICA [pt].[2][4]

Release

edit

On Falling world premiered in the 'Discovery' programme of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.[2] It was also presented at the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival on 24 September 2024,[5] in competition for the Golden Shell. It also made it to the 'First Feature Competition' of the 2024 BFI London Film Festival.[6]

Reception

edit

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, calling it "a very impressive debut".[7]

Matthew Joseph Jenner of International Cinephile Society rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, writing that it "conveys a very clear message and delivers it with genuine affection and attention to detail, which is important for a story that carries such resonance".[8]

Fionnuala Halligan of ScreenDaily pointed out how the film grows to become "an intense, enveloping experience".[9]

Sophie Monks Kaufman of IndieWire gave the film an 'A-' rating, deeming it to be "far better than anything living-political-legend Loach made during the final innings of his career".[3]

David Katz of Cineuropa declared the film a "laudably a protest film clamouring for a better way of life, but it still evokes a story's first act mistaken for a whole feature".[2]

Reception

edit
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2024
72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival Golden Shell Won
Silver Shell for Best Director Laura Carreira Won
RTVE-Another Look Award – Special Mention Won

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Ntim, Zac (5 September 2024). "Laura Carreira & Jack Thomas-O'Brien On The Strong Collaboration Behind Their Political TIFF Debut 'On Falling'". Deadline Hollywood.
  2. ^ a b c d Katz, David (11 September 2024). "Review: On Falling". Cineuropa.
  3. ^ a b Kaufman, Sophie Monks (6 September 2024). "'On Falling' Review: A Quietly Devastating Debut Introduces an Emotionally Sophisticated New Master of Social Realism". IndieWire.
  4. ^ Tabbara, Mona (14 February 2024). "Goodfellas adds Laura Carreira's 'On Falling' To EFM line-up (exclusive)". ScreenDaily.
  5. ^ "La directora portuguesa Laura Carreira presenta 'On Falling': "¿Cuál es el coste de vivir de esta manera?"". Europa Press. 24 September 2024.
  6. ^ Szalai, Georg. "London Film Fest Unveils Full Program, Including Doc and First Feature Competition Lineups, Series". The Hollywood Reporter.
  7. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (24 September 2024). "On Falling review – the strip mining of an online warehouse worker's sanity". The Guardian.
  8. ^ "Toronto 2024 review: On Falling (Laura Carreira)". International Cinephile Society. 9 September 2024.
  9. ^ Halligan, Fionnuala (23 September 2024). "'On Falling': San Sebastian Review". ScreenDaily.
  10. ^ Lodge, Guy (28 September 2024). "San Sebastián Film Festival Award Winners (Updating Live)". Variety.
  11. ^ Taylor, Nick. "San Sebastián Announces Their Competition Slate!". The Film Experience. Retrieved 21 August 2024.