86
Metascore
21 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100The GuardianAndrew PulverThe GuardianAndrew PulverFew British film-makers have dared to attempt such a thoroughly poetic treatment of their native land, and Terence Davies is the only one to have succeeded so spectacularly.
- 100Slant MagazineSlant MagazineDavies transcends the facile trap of misery-porn by tapping into the basic notion that could make musicals so enlivening—music as direct expression, music as emotion felt. One of the most profoundly spiritual films in recent decades.
- 100Time Out LondonDave CalhounTime Out LondonDave CalhounIt’s a heartbreaking work. Its cast are phenomenal; its songs flow through the film like blood; and Davies is unflinching in his hunt for truth and full of nothing but love and understanding for his characters. A masterpiece.
- 88Rolling StonePeter TraversRolling StonePeter TraversWhen a forty-four-year-old man makes a movie about his family and friends sitting around singing old tunes, you certainly don't expect an unforgettable amalgam of humor and heartbreak. But that is precisely what Terence Davies delivers.
- 88Chicago TribuneDave KehrChicago TribuneDave KehrA gripping and original piece of work, itself sure to be remembered as one of the finest films of the year.
- 80The New YorkerRichard BrodyThe New YorkerRichard BrodyWith an unfailing eye for place, décor, costume, and gesture, the director glides his camera through tangles of memories to evoke joys and horrors with a similar sense of wonder.
- 80EmpireDavid ParkinsonEmpireDavid ParkinsonExposing the bleak reality of a supposedly more innocent time, this inspired blend of musical and melodrama succeeds in being both fond and forlorn, artistic and authentic.
- 80The film is full of singing, as the characters break into familiar songs at family gatherings or in the local pub. This isn’t a film based on nostalgia, though; its very special qualities stem from the beautiful simplicity of direction, writing and playing, and the accuracy of the incidents depicted.
- 75TV Guide MagazineTV Guide MagazineIn this very personal portrait, Davies, the artist, has re-created universal experiences--familiar passions and needs--that draw us to his family's humanity.
- One of those dimly realized personal statements that ultimately says a lot less than the written program notes that accompany it.