X
- 2019
- R
- 2 h
- 2019
- R
- 2 h
Summary A shy but ambitious film student (Honor Swinton Byrne) begins to find her voice as an artist while navigating a turbulent courtship with a charismatic but untrustworthy man (Tom Burke). She defies her protective mother (Tilda Swinton) and concerned friends as she slips deeper and deeper into an intense, emotionally fraught relationship t...
Directed By: Joanna Hogg
Written By: Joanna Hogg
- 2019
- R
- 2 h
- 2019
- R
- 2 h
The Souvenir
6.3
Where to Watch
Summary A shy but ambitious film student (Honor Swinton Byrne) begins to find her voice as an artist while navigating a turbulent courtship with a charismatic but untrustworthy man (Tom Burke). She defies her protective mother (Tilda Swinton) and concerned friends as she slips deeper and deeper into an intense, emotionally fraught relationship t...
Directed By: Joanna Hogg
Written By: Joanna Hogg
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 45 Critic Reviews
92
93% Positive
42 Reviews
42 Reviews
7% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 45 Critic Reviews
92
93% Positive
42 Reviews
42 Reviews
7% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
It’s multi-layered and beautifully observed – as much about the creative process as it is about obsessive love. It’s a glorious affirmation of how experience feeds artistic endeavour.
The Souvenir feels like a whispered confidence, an intimate disclosure that shouldn’t be betrayed because it isn’t really yours.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 91 User Ratings
6.3
56% Positive
51 Ratings
51 Ratings
21% Mixed
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
23% Negative
21 Ratings
21 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 91 User Ratings
6.3
56% Positive
51 Ratings
51 Ratings
21% Mixed
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
23% Negative
21 Ratings
21 Ratings
The Souvenir is one of the best films of the year. It is a romantic drama, that tells the story of a couple: The woman (played by Honor Swinton) is an aspiring filmmaker and the boyfriend (played by Tom Burke) is a mysterious drugaddict. I wasn't expecting some subject matters in this movie and they were handled in a realistic and shocking way. The movie is very well-written, but its strongest point by far is its performances. Honor Swinton's acting is just wonderful, so was Tom Burke's acting too. These actors really give realism and depth to their characters through their performances. This is one of the best acted films I have seen in the year so far. The directing and cinematography, while both good, could've been better.
Overall this is an amazing character study film. Don't expect like an exciting plot because this movie has no plot. You will be left with nothing but great dialogue and terrific performances.
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It may have taken Hogg several decades to realize that her own box of darkness was actually a beautiful gift, but she unwraps it with the care and tenderness of someone who understands its true value.
Ambiguous, finely shaded autobiographical dramas like this one don’t generally form the cornerstone of an expanded universe. But Honor Swinton Byrne, making her feature film debut, has created a character who’s complex (and at times maddening) enough to deserve further exploration.
Virtually every frame of this film is strikingly effective.
This is Hogg’s most disconcerting work to date. Like her previous movies, such as “Unrelated” (2007), it proceeds in lengthy takes, and the camera, more often than not, prefers to keep its distance, the better to observe her characters — the human animals — at play.
To me, the film is boring, lifeless, too dreary for its own good, and has really annoying quirks and habits that just irritate me.
The best film I have seen so far this year, even though it is a kind of “Merchant Ivory film” from and for a new generation. It's beautifully acted and beautifully shot, but more realistic and with more of an edge and a more contemporary theme. The louche Anthony (brilliantly acted by David Burke) is “cool” and self-possessed, but also hopelessly lost. He flirts with and tempts Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne), and perhaps because of her family ties and a stronger sense of self, she manages to resist his frailties. It’s been awhile since I have seen such wonderful, believable acting, and I look forward to seeing more from the director Joanna Hogg.
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This is very much a subtle and arty kind of a film. The scenes move slowly and its mainly a sort of depiction of the main characters sense of personal isolation and their ability to open up to one another, thus its about secrets and trust to a if but small extent. I can certainly understand why some may feel this is a bit bland and dull - its not the sort of film that exactly grabs you visually, its safe to say. This will only really appeal if your ok with dialogue heavy and perhaps introspective type films, I'd have thought. There is a fair bit of talk about film, i.e. film analysis, although its a drama rather than a documentary, of course.
I can also see why its regarded by some as rather self indulgent. I thought it was ok, slightly good and perhaps thought provoking but not entirely captivating. Its a thoughtful watch which won't appeal to all but for what it is, its ok.
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The ONLY interesting thing about this movie is that Honor Swinton Byrne works with her mom, Tilda (who also plays her mom in the movie). Honor plays a dull film student who's also in a relationship with a man who has serious issues (Tom Burke). However, this whole thing is played out in quiet conversations with virtually no emotional investment and only the most sedate of interactions. A staid, tedious British version of mumblecore.
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Handily one of the most empty, tedious and flat-out dull movie experiences I've had in quite a long, long while. This alleged story (if one could even call it that) of the perils of toxic relationships never gets off the ground but instead wallows in a collection of disjointed incidents mixed in with pseudointellectual discussions about filmmaking and other obscure, esoteric topics. For the life of me I have no clue what director Joanna Hogg was going for here, and, based on the results, I suspect she didn't, either.
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Production Company
BBC Film,
BFI Film Fund,
JWH Films,
Protagonist Pictures,
Sikelia Productions
Release Date May 17, 2019
Duration 2 h
Rating R
Tagline The Past Never Stays in Focus.
Awards
British Independent Film Awards
• 8 Nominations
London Critics Circle Film Awards
• 2 Wins & 7 Nominations
International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA)
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
