Set in contemporary London, the visually arresting Lilting is an intimate and subdued drama that focuses on two main characters: Kai’s mother Junn, of Chinese-Cambodian origin, who lives in a retirement home, and Richard, Kai’s unavouched life partner. The pair are struggling to come to terms with a tragic event that has left them utterly bereft – Kai’s death. The talented debut director has deftly captured in sensitive fashion the distinct stages of grief and mourning, as well as the characters’ spiritual confusion. Realistic sequences alternate with more dreamlike passages that clarify the characters’ relationship to Kai, and the nonlinear narrative results in a mosaic of stories told almost without words. The director places great store on the authentic performances from Ben Whishaw and legendary Chinese actress Pei-pei Cheng, who capture even the most inner emotions and motivations with mere facial expressions. The film screened to rave reviews in the international competition at this year’s Sundance.