Lilting

The opening film of the 2014 BFI Flare Festival, Lilting tells the story of a Cambodian-Chinese mother mourning the untimely death of her son. Her world is suddenly disrupted by the presence of a stranger, and we observe their difficulties in trying to connect with one another without a common language.

Through a translator they piece together memories of a man they both loved dearly, and realise that while they may not share a language, they are connected in their grief.

A touching, intimate film about finding the things which bring us together, Lilting features rousing performances from its leads Ben Whishaw and Cheng Pei-Pei and has announced director Hong Khaou as a brave new voice in independent British cinema.