Lilting, film review: Raw emotions, jealousy, bereavement - and plenty of humour

(15) Hong Khaou, 86 mins Starring: Ben Whishaw, Pei Pei Cheng, Peter Bowles

Dance away the heartache: Naomi Christie and Ben Whishaw in Hong Khaou’s tender, perceptive chamber piece‘Lilting’

The writer/director Hong Khaou's chamber piece boasts some wonderful performances from veteran Chinese actress Pei Pei Cheng, Ben Whishaw and the still dapper Peter Bowles.

Much of the story is set in an old people's home where Junn (Cheng) is living. She is visited regularly by Richard (Whishaw) but has no idea that her son, who has died, was Richard's lover. Junn speaks barely a word of English but is still being courted by her fellow resident Alan (Bowles).

Khaou is dealing with some very raw emotions, jealousy and bereavement among them. He probes away at the misunderstandings and bad feelings between the young, gay British man and the elderly Chinese-Cambodian woman.

The flashbacks are seamlessly integrated. There is plenty of humour here too, much of it courtesy of Bowles' raffish old charmer. The film was clearly made on a tiny budget but in its slow-burning way it is subtle, perceptive and very moving.