Clio Barnard, the BAFTA-nominated writer/director behind acclaimed British indie films such as “The Selfish Giant,” “Dark River” and “Ali & Ava,” has set a buzzy ensemble cast for her next feature.
“I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning,” based on the novel of the same name by Keiran Goddard (“Hourglass), will star Anthony Boyle (“Say Nothing,” “Masters of the Air”), Joe Cole (“Gangs of London,” “A Prayer Before Dawn”), Jay Lycurgo (“Steve,” “Half Bad: The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself”), Daryl McCormack (“Good Luck to You, Leo Grande,” “Bad Sisters”) and Lola Petticrew (“Say Nothing,” “She Said”).
The cast also includes Millie Brady (“Surface,” “The Last Kingdom”), Lucie Shorthouse (“We Are Lady Parts,” “Rebus”) and James Eeles (“The Batman,” “Darkest Hour”).
Tony-winning Irish playwright, screenwriter and director Enda Walsh (“Small Things Like These,” “Hunger”) penned the screenplay for the film, which has now commenced principal photography on location in the U.K.
As per the synopsis, “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning” follows “Five friends. Five lives. Countless hopes.”
Patrick, Shiv, Rian, Oli and Conor grew up together. They played together, skipped school together, and dreamt of everything they’d do with their lives. Now they’re thirty and those dreams haven’t materialised quite how they imagined. Patrick (Boyle) and Shiv (Petticrew) are as in love as ever, but their relationship is rocked when an old secret opens up new wounds. Charismatic Oli (Lycurgo), always the life and soul, is partying too hard and is fading by the day. Conor (McCormack) has a baby on the way and a business plan that could change everything. Only Rian (Cole) has escaped the estate, made a lot of money and moved to another city, but even that hasn’t helped him move on from the past.
According to the filmmakers, “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning” asks “what happens when all the things we expect from our lives end up … not happening. It lays bare the ways that place and circumstance shape us, explores the redeeming and transforming beauty of friendship and examines the true limits of hope.”
The film is produced by Barnard’s long-term producer Tracy O’Riordan (“Ali & Ava,” “Alice & Jack,” “Dream Horse,” “Dark River,” “The Selfish Gian”t) of Moonspun Films. It was developed with BBC Film who are also co-financing with BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), in association with Curzon Film who will handle U.K. distribution. Executive producers are Barnard, Walsh, Goddard, Eva Yates and Claudia Yusef (BBC Film), Mia Bays (BFI), Ali Jazayeri and Keith Kehoe (TPC), Louisa Dent and Philip Knatchbull (Curzon Film), Carole Baraton and Lucie Desquiens (Charades).
Barnard turned heads in 2010 with her feature-length debut “The Arbor,” a documentary about late playwright Andrea Dunbar, and would go on to establish herself as one of the U.K.’s most distinctive cinematic voices with dramas “The Selfish Giant,” “Dark River” and “Ali & Ava,” which premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight sidebar and was BAFTA nominated Outstanding British film in 2022. Barnard also directed BAFTA-winning limited series “The Essex Serpent” and was lead director on the second season of acclaimed crime drama “Sherwood.”
Novelist, poet and social commentator Goddard was longlisted for the Desmond Elliot prize his debut novel “Hourglass.” His latest book “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning,” which was published in 2024, received widespread acclaim and was nominated for the Gordon Burn Prize.
Boyle is represented by Hamilton Hodell, Cole by WME, B-Side and Tapestry London, Lycurgo by Insight Management & Production, Artists First and Public Eye Communications), McCormack by Hamilton Hodell), Petticrew by Hamilton Hodell), Brady by Independent Talent), Shorthouse by Conway Van Gelder Grant) and Eeles by GDA Management. Goddard is repped by Jazz Adamson at Curtis Brown for Film & Television Rights, on behalf of Clare Conville at C&W. Walsh is represented by Katie Battcock and Nick Marston at Curtis Brown.
