Written and directed by Clio Barnard, Ali & Ava (2021) is a tender, uplifting and unconventional love story set in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Ali (Adeel Akhtar), a warm-hearted landlord, meets Ava (Claire Rushbrook), a teaching assistant and devoted mother, through a chance encounter involving a young child they both care about. Bonding over their shared love of music, humour and lively conversation, the pair discover an unexpected connection. But as their relationship deepens, they must navigate the complexities of family, past relationships, grief and the expectations of those around them.

Ali & Ava refuses to conform to conventional ideas about romance, age, race, class or what a family should look like. Music becomes a language of connection across cultural and personal differences, while the film sensitively explores prejudice, mental health, loneliness and the possibility of new beginnings. Praised for its naturalistic performances and humane portrayal of working-class life, Ali & Ava offers a hopeful, free-thinking reminder that love can challenge assumptions, break down barriers and arrive when we least expect it.