20 Best Movies Of 2023
20. Rye Lane
What's most impressive about Raine Allen-Miller's directorial debut is how utterly enveloping it is, following two heartbroken souls (David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah) as they meet, fall in love, and move through South London basking in each other's company, before prematurely going their separate ways.
Visually sublime, Rye Lane sounds simple on paper, but Allen-Miller's keen eye for the quirks and nuances of newfound romance is effortlessly its own beast. Thanks to Jonsson and Oparah's palpable chemistry and Allen-Miller's naturalistically funny, empathetic script, it never feels burdened by the pitfalls of the rom-com.
Clocking in at barely eighty minutes, this particular romance feels truly honest, clearly borne from a place of deep, personal experience. Even if you're a romantic cynic, watching Dom and Yas open their hearts again, set against such a vibrant backdrop, will surely make you a believer.