Romantic relationships are tricky. You have needs, but you also have to consider the needs of your partner. You have to strike and maintain a perfect balance in the relationship to keep the fire alive. But bumps are often inevitable. Yes, communicating with your loved ones is the answer to all problems, but some people would rather jump ship than drown.
Take it from Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah).
Dom’s long-time girlfriend (Karene Peter) cheated on him with his best friend, Eric (Benjamin Sarpong-Broni). Oh, it hurts to get replaced by your pal, but the really painful part about all this mess is that Eric has no job and is a little slow. Whereas Dom is nice and considerate and a successful accountant.
Yas is also fresh from a breakup. But unlike Dom, she dumped her boyfriend (Malcolm Atobrah) for simply refusing to wave at people on boats. She believes that her man hates joy. He also treats her like she’s insignificant. He has a new girlfriend now.
The two meet inside an all-inclusive restroom. Yas heard Dom’s helpless whimpers as he watched her ex’s videos. She is naturally curious about him, so she strikes up a conversation outside. As they uncover each other’s sob stories, they discover that there are things they can learn from each other and that there’s more to life than their ungrateful exes.
It feels like it's been forever since there’s been a good mumblecore movie.
Then "Rye Lane" happens.
Like its opening sequence, you might randomly come across it. It’s a small film with no recognizable star. It’s also Raine Allen-Miller’s first film. Everything about it screams indie. But its success with critics and at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival allowed it to have a bit of a platform through Disney. Although you will never see them extensively market it, it's a hidden gem you should try watching.
"Rye Lane" is a typical rom-com. Honestly, it can be very boring since it is mostly all talk, but if you stay with it for a few minutes, you’ll realize that it knows how to play to its strengths. There’s undeniable real emotion and connection between the actors. Plus, the natural flow of conversation, the smart and funny banter, the dynamic framing and editing, and the city coming alive as these two fall in love are something that’s impossible not to admire.
At the heart of it is a story that most people will find relatable. Here we have a spontaneous young woman tired of rejection and an emotional young man in a state of limbo from a failed relationship. They represent phases of our lives when we mostly long for a friend, and it sparks definite joy to see them heal and savor moments of amity.
It is also a delight to watch Dom and Yas. There’s really an irrefutable chemistry on screen every time they interact with each other. Despite having opposite vibes, it is surprising to find them complementing each other so nicely.
Dom has this gentle aura, and you will root for him because his intention is pure and true from the start. He is the soul. On the other hand, Yas is the heart of this film. She’s the beat of the story, a bombastic presence that keeps the story moving and engaging. When she feels pain, anger, or any emotion, we feel it too. We care about her because she makes us understand her struggles.
Two compelling characters vibing with each other should be the face of contemporary mumblecore cinema. Most movies in the subgenre tend to drift off into discourse about complex philosophies. Although I understand that it makes them sound clever and marketable, but it also makes them cringey and inorganic. I wish there were more movies like "Rye Lane" that favors sincere, organic, and truthful conversation about things in life without sounding cheap and feigned.
