I See Buildings Fall like Lightning

I See Buildings Fall like Lightning
British theatrical release poster
Directed byClio Barnard
Screenplay by
Based on
I See Buildings Fall like Lightning
by Keiran Goddard
Produced byTracy O'Riordan
Starring
CinematographySimon Tindall
Edited byMaya Maffioli
Music byHarry Escott
Production
companies
Distributed byCurzon Film (United Kingdom)
Release dates
  • 20 May 2026 (2026-05-20) (Cannes)
  • 4 December 2026 (2026-12-04) (United Kingdom)
Running time
109 minutes
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • France
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

I See Buildings Fall like Lightning is a 2026 drama film directed by Clio Barnard, written by Enda Walsh and based on the book of the same name by Keiran Goddard. It stars Anthony Boyle, Joe Cole, Jay Lycurgo, Daryl McCormack and Lola Petticrew as five childhood friends who confront their unfulfilled dreams in the midst of the UK housing crisis.

The film had its world premiere at the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in 20 May, where it won the section's Audience Award.

Cast

Production

The novel by Keiran Goddard is adapted by Enda Walsh for the film directed by Clio Barnard. It has producer Tracy O’Riordan for Moonspun Films with funding from BBC Film and BFI and Curzon Film distributing. Goddard always thought the book had cinematic potential despite having long interior monologues.

Principal photography took place in the United Kingdom in April 2025, with locations including Birmingham. Cinematographer Simon Tindall shot the production in hybrid formats, 16mm film and digitally, marking his first collaboration with Barnard.

Release

The film is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom on 4 December 2026.

Reception

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 95% based on 19 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 77 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian praised the "warmth and heartfelt passion" of the central quintet in the cast in a five-star review and described the film as having a "mix of poignancy, defiance and contaminated euphoria [which] stayed with me hours after the closing credits".

Nikki Baughan for Screen Daily called the film an "expertly-observed study of human relationships" but warned that "there are moments when the screenplay veers towards the soapbox…against the scourge of landlords, the inhumanity of capitalism, the stagnation of the working class" but that " these sentiments come from a place of genuine, brown-beaten human experience, rather than a filmmaker trying to make a political point".

Hannah Strong in Little White Lies magazine wrote that "Boyle, Lycurgo and McCormack emerge as the stand-outs, portraying different aspects of modern masculinity thoughtfully" and that the film "displays the intricacies of male friendships with a real tenderness".

Accolades

Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Cannes Film Festival 2026 Audience Award Clio Barnard Won
Palm Dog Award - Grand Jury Prize Won

References

  1. ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (April 14, 2026). "Cannes Directors' Fortnight Unveils Starry 2026 Lineup With Films By Kantemir Balagov, Clio Bernard, Esiri Brothers, Radu Jude, Reed Van Dyk & Quentin Dupieux". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  2. ↑ "I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning". Quinzaine des cinéastes. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  3. ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (May 21, 2026). "Cannes Directors' Fortnight Winners: Clio Bernard's 'I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning' Scoops People's Choice Audience Award". Deadline. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  4. ↑ Reid, Kurtis (April 5, 2025). "Say Nothing stars to reunite for Enda Walsh's adaptation of Goddard's novel". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  5. ↑ Ritman, Alex (April 4, 2025). "Clio Barnard Sets Next Feature 'I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning,' Anthony Boyle, Joe Cole, Jay Lycurgo, Daryl McCormack and Lola Petticrew to Star (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Brooks, Xan (October 15, 2026). "'To succeed meant to leave': inside the jolting film about Brummie estate kids knocked flying by demolition". The Guardian. Retrieved October 17, 2026.
  7. ↑ Medjdoub, Yasmine (April 5, 2025). "Clio Barnard's 'I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning' starts UK shoot". Screen Daily. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Cannes Film Festival". Kodak. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  9. ↑ Katz, David (April 16, 2026). "Clio Barnard brings I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning to the Directors' Fortnight". Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  10. ↑ Dalton, Ben. "UK-Ireland film cinema release dates: latest updates for 2026". Screen Daily. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
  11. ↑ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_see_buildings_fall_like_lightning
  12. ↑ https://www.metacritic.com/movie/i-see-buildings-fall-like-lightning?ftag=MCD-06-10aaa1c
  13. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (May 20, 2026). "I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning review – sweet, sad portrait of gen Z discontent and disillusion". The Guardian. Retrieved October 17, 2026.
  14. ↑ Baughan, Nikki (May 20, 2026). "'I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning' review: Clio Barnard's Birmingham friendship drama builds on its strong performances". Screen Daily. Retrieved October 17, 2026.
  15. ↑ Strong, Hannah (May 20, 2026). "I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning – first-look review". Little White Lies. Retrieved October 17, 2026.
  16. ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (May 21, 2026). "Cannes Directors' Fortnight Winners: Clio Bernard's 'I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning' Scoops People's Choice Audience Award". Deadline. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  17. ↑ Louise Dixon (May 22, 2026). "A round of a-paws for 'La Perra,' winner of the Palm Dog award at Cannes". AP News. Retrieved May 22, 2025.