Stephen Graham’s new British drama Animol has drawn acclaim in its first reviews, with the movie hailed as a “must-see”. Directed by Adolescence collaborator Ashley Walters, the film follows inmates at a juvenile detention centre.
The “raw and poignant coming-of-age story” shines a light on “the power of humanity in the midst of adversity”, and stars Graham alongside The Long Walk’s Tut Nyuot, Dune’s Sharon Duncan-Brewster and Vladyslav Baliuk.
The movie originally premiered at last month’s Berlin International Film Festival, and now a few reviews have surfaced, with the reception pretty positive so far.
Digital Spy called it a “must-see” in our five-star verdict, writing: “Just when you think you’ve seen everything that prison-set stories have to offer, something like Sing Sing, Stephen Graham’s BBC show Time and now Animol comes along, drawing new inspiration to push back against the systemic horrors of incarceration.”
We added that “there is strength to be found in tenderness, connection and even love, just when ‘despair’ threatens to overwhelm entirely”.
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Time Out further called it a “brilliant British film” that “cares deeply” about its main characters, which carries it “to an intriguingly queer place thrumming with pent-up promise”.
“It’s grim and wrapped in despair much of the time but willing to make space for hope, understanding and forgiveness,” added The Hollywood Reporter. “Most of all it’s never banal, always involving, with fully convincing performances across the board.”
However, in a more mixed verdict, The Guardian highlighted the “empathy and strong performances”, though also called Animol a “flawed film”.
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Walters previously called the project “deeply personal”, adding: “It explores the struggle of being your authentic self in a world that often pressures you to conform — one of life’s greatest challenges.
“At its heart, this is a story about survival and the safety found in true connection. It’s not about the ‘what’; it’s about the ‘why.’”
Animol is yet to confirm a UK release date.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.