Falling Into Place (Russell Hobbs British Film Festival 2024) - Film Review

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Wed 06 Nov 2024 - Fri 06 Dec 2024

Starring, written and directed by German actress Aylin Tezel, Falling Into Place is an elegant romantic drama about two Londoners who meet outside a pub on the Scottish island of Skye. The spark between 30-somethings Kira (Tezel) and Ian (Chris Fulton) is immediate, and over the following hours, the pair walk, talk, play and flirt. But an emergency forces the couple to part ways and they return to London separately, unaware that they both live in the same city.



A designer and artist, Kira has recently broken up with her long-term boyfriend and is visiting Skye on what she calls a spontaneous holiday. Ian lives in London with his girlfriend but grew up on the island and is there visiting his parents. When Kira and Ian meet they are soon wandering the empty overnight streets talking, mucking around and playing games (at one point, Kira challenges Ian to a running race, assuring him that she is really, really fast). Eventually, the pair end up at Ian's parent's house, where hints of discord are obvious. Later at a friend's house, Ian receives a call about his sister, bringing his time with Kira to an end.

The snow-dappled countryside of Skye is traded for the anonymous suburbs of London in the film's next act. We see Kira trying to kickstart her career and move on from her relationship woes. But stumbling upon her ex-boyfriend in a coffee shop brings all her vulnerabilities to the surface and she lapses into self-destructive behaviour. Ian is likewise at sea. He lives with his girlfriend (played by Alexandra Dowling) but they are not in love with each other, and Ian's inability to open up about his family's problems poses a thorn in the relationship.

Kira and Ian continue alternating between making positive changes and back-sliding into self-sabotaging behaviour. It's here that the story sags a little, the scenes of Kira and Ian going about their lives separately less strong than those when they were together. Eventually, both characters decide to go on the straight and narrow, seeking to improve their careers and relationships.

Somehow Tezel manages to keep this all on track. Her performance is one of the main reasons for this. She's funny and odd and emotional and charming all the same time. Chris Fulton's Ian is also likeable and the two work well together, it is a shame perhaps that they spend much of the film merely orbiting each other. Tezel's direction is also sound, the breathtakingly beautiful winter landscapes of Skye offering a stunning backdrop.

All the pieces of Falling Into Place may not fit perfectly. In fact, the majority of the film may not live up to the promise of those first fun scenes when Kira and Ian have just met and are traipsing expectantly across Skye. There are also some believability issues, particularly at the conclusion. But the film's assuredness and visual beauty is evident. And there's a certain rawness and quirkiness that's hard not to like.

Falling Into Place is playing nationally as part of the Russell Hobbs British Film Festival 2024. Find information on session times, locations and tickets on the festival's official website .

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