Kindling (2023 film)

Kindling is a 2023 British drama film written and directed by Connor O'Hara in his feature debut, based on his short film Infinite (2016).

Kindling
Directed by	Connor O'Hara
Written by	Connor O'Hara
Based on	Infinite (2016) by Connor O'Hara
Produced by	Jamie Gamache Mark Foligno
Cinematography	David Wright
Edited by	Sarah Peczek
Music by	Harry Brokensha
Production companies	Lowkey Films Haymarket Films Lipsync Productions Hyprr Films
Distributed by	Signature Entertainment
Release dates	25 March 2023 (2023-03-25) (Cleveland) 21 April 2023 (2023-04-21) (United Kingdom) [1]
Running time	93 minutes[2]
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

A group of young men return to their hometown to turn their friend Sid's final summer into a celebration of life and friendship. Facing mortality, Sid wants to create a legacy and be remembered forever. With his obsession for astronomy and the atmosphere, he comes up with a plan to bring everyone together and make this summer unforgettable. He gives each boy a category - love, home, friends, family and location - and asks them to find an item that connects them all with the word they've been given. That week they'll build a fire to burn the items they collect, a ritual that Sid believes will make him last forever.

Cast

• George Somner as Sid
• Conrad Khan as Dribble
• Wilson Mbomio as Diggs
• Mia McKenna-Bruce as Lily
• Rory J. Saper as Plod
• Kaine Zajaz as Wolfie
• Geoff Bell as Sid's Dad
• Tara Fitzgerald as Sid's Mum
• Hattie Gotobed as Mia
• Ocean Navarro as Jess

Production

In 2016, Lowkey Films released a short film Infinite by Connor O'Hara, which starred George Mackay, Elliot James Langridge, Rose Williams, and Alexander Lincoln. Infinite provided the proof of concept for Kindling, which is semi-autobiographical based on O'Hara's personal experience of losing two friends when he was 21. In the late stages of postproduction on Kindling, he lost another friend, the real life Plod. The film is dedicated "to those we've loved and lost".

O'Hara and producer Jamie Gamache spent a number of years financing the project, with Haymarket Films boarding the project in February 2020. Also producing the film was Mark Foligno of Lipsync Productions, while executive producers included Andrew and Terry Loveday of Haymarket Films, Norman Merry and Peter Hampden of Lipsync, and Rachel Warren and Carl Shepherd of Hyprr Films. Pre-production was placed on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August 2021, it was announced George Somner, Conrad Khan, and Wilson Mbomio would star in the film alongside Mia McKenna-Bruce, Rory J. Saper, Kaine Zajaz, Geoff Bell, and Tara Fitzgerald.^[3]

Principal photography took place on location in August and September 2021.^[4] Suffolk filming locations including Stansfield, Hawkedon, and Chevington,^[5] while Essex filming locations included Colchester, Wivenhoe, Dedham, Langham, and Boxted.^[6]

Release

Carnaby International boarded as sales agent in May 2022.^[7] In November 2022, the film secured an April 2023 theatrical release from Signature Entertainment in the UK and Ireland.^[8] Kindling had its world premiere at the Cleveland International Film Festival and also screened at the Phoenix Film Festival in March. It became the first British film in six years to feature in the Competition lineup at the Shanghai International Film Festival in May. In July 2023, the BBC acquired a license to broadcast the film.^[9]

Reception

Cath Clarke of The Guardian gave Kindling three stars out of five, describing the film as having a "lovely natural, unforced quality" to it. She also called Somner's "understated, observant performance" "terrific".^[10] Christos Makropoulos of Blaze Radio praised the character writing as well as the cast, highlighting Somner and Mbomio's performances in particular.^[11] Kindling appeared on the May 2023 Glamour UK list of the Best British films of the year so far.^[12]

References

1. "Kindling". British Council Film. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
2. "Kindling". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
3. Grater, Tom (6 August 2021). "'Sex Education' Star Boards UK Feature 'Kindling'; Venice Passion For Film Award; ITV Hub Record – Global Briefs". Deadline. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
4. "Kindling". Cinando. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
5. Nicholl, Kaia (19 August 2023). "Stansfield Village Hall to screen Kindling after film shoot". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
6. Deady, Elliot (12 April 2023). "Kindling film shot in Colchester to premiere next week". Colchester Gazette. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
7. Dalton, Ben (16 May 2022). "Carnaby boards UK feature 'Kindling' starring 'Sex Education', 'The Witcher' actors (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
8. Ritman, Alex (28 November 2022). "British Drama 'Kindling,' Starring 'Sex Education' Actor George Somner, Picked up for U.K. by Signature (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
9. Ntim, Zac (19 July 2023). "BBC Picks Up Indie Drama 'Kindling,' The First British Pic To Play Shanghai Film Fest In Six Years". Deadline. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
10. Clarke, Cath (17 April 2023). "Kindling review – male friendship shines through in convincing cancer tale". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
11. Makropoulos, Christos (31 March 2023). ""Kindling" Review: The positively human nature will leave you in tears". Blaze Radio. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
12. Waheed, Jabeen (22 May 2023). "9 best British films of 2023 making us proud, from blockbuster hits to festival-season darlings". Glamour UK. Retrieved 2 October 2023.

External links

• Kindling at IMDb