Clio Barnard's Latest Film Scores 95%

The film has received impressive scores, with a 6.6/10 rating on IMDb, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 77/100 on Metacritic. It has also won two awards, including the Audience Award at the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning is a drama film directed by Clio Barnard, written by Enda Walsh and Keiran Goddard, and stars Anthony Boyle, Lola Petticrew, and Daryl McCormack as five childhood friends who confront their unfulfilled dreams in the midst of the UK housing crisis.

The film is set in Birmingham and follows the lives of five friends who have known each other since childhood as they navigate economic pressures, unfulfilled dreams, and unravelling secrets. The ensemble cast generates fantastic onscreen chemistry, and the film's portrayal of male friendships is particularly noteworthy. Director Clio Barnard's previous work includes Ali & Ava, Dark River, and The Selfish Giant, and she has once again created a moving social-realist picture.

The film will be screened at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts in Brighton on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. For more information and to book tickets, click the button beside this article. With its impressive cast, thoughtful direction, and timely themes, I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning is a film that will resonate with audiences.