Lilting

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Lilting

Released Sep 26, 2014

1h 31m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

In London, a Cambodian mother mourns her son as she struggles to connect with someone.

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Critics Consensus

Skillfully weaving multiple delicate tonal strands into a quietly affecting whole, Lilting serves as a thoroughly compelling calling card for writer-director Hong Khaou.

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Peter Keough

Boston Globe

A more fitting title for the film would be "Limping."

Rated: 2/4

Oct 16, 2014

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Stephanie Merry

Washington Post

It is, as the title suggests, sweet - but also slight.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 16, 2014

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Thomas Lee

San Francisco Chronicle

Guilt hangs over "Lilting," a suffocating haze so thick that it permeates every unspoken, non-understood word between characters trying to traverse a frustrating gulf of language and grief.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 16, 2014

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Steve Cruz

OUT FRONT Magazine (Denver)

Lilting is simple, tender, and touching.

May 9, 2023

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Michael J. Casey

Michael J. Cinema

'Lilting' is a very polite conversation, and like most polite conversations, adds little to anything.

Rated: 2.5/5

Oct 29, 2021

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Lilting is a celebratory piece, a rare film that manages to strike the right notes concerning the difficulty we experience interacting and understanding one another.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 5, 2019

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Audience Member

Touching film about relationships not often portrayed in film - links to partners' families.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Audience Member

Impressive for a debut film. An interesting subject matter and a great 'romance' you don't normally see - man trying to connect with (essentially) his mother-in-law. Excellent acting all around, great use of languages, and emotionally affecting. Perhaps a little too narrow, a little too platitudinal by the end... but worth the watch if the subject matter interests you.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

Absolutely beautiful!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

you wanna cry? then watch lilting. lovely story that is precious, heartbreaking, subtle and sensitive. the characters are easy on the eyes and live a quiet peaceful existence that will have you feeling connected in the softest of ways.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

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Audience Member

It's not often movies are able to handle such sensitive issues in a delicate way, with the narrative often polarizing either towards the lukewarm or the provocative. This film manages to stay poignant throughout, brimming with thematic respect and the three main characters excelling at their respective roles. There were some continuity issues detracting from the otherwise beautiful flow but if you can forgive the very few flaws, you will enjoy this unadorned fable of banding together the unlikely in a bid to cope and absolve.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

Beautifully subtle but powerful filmmaking. Incredible performances from the entire cast. I longed for more memories with Kai just like Richard and Junn.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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Hong Khaou

Director

Ben Whishaw

Actor

Morven Christie

Actor

Peter Bowles

Actor

Cheng Pei-pei

Actor

Andrew Leung

Actor

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Synopsis

In London, a Cambodian mother mourns her son as she struggles to connect with someone.

Director: Hong Khaou
Producer: Dominic Buchanan
Screenwriter: Hong Khaou
Distributor: Strand Releasing
Production Co: Lilting Production, SUMS Film and Media, London Film Productions, BBC Film, Stink Films, Microwave, Dominic Buchanan Productions
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.7K
Runtime: 1h 31m

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