The Souvenir

Name: The Souvenir
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance
Released: May 17, 2019
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 92
Cast: Alice McMillan, Chyna Terrelonge-Vaughan, Fabrizio Matteini, Frankie Wilson, Hannah Ashby Ward

2019

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 45 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 89 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 89 Ratings

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The Souvenir

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: May 17, 2019 | Not Rated

Starring: Alice McMillan, Chyna Terrelonge-Vaughan, Fabrizio Matteini, Frankie Wilson, Hannah Ashby Ward, Honor Swinton-Byrne, Jack McMullen, Jake Phillips Head, James Spencer Ashworth, Janet Etuk, Jaygann Ayeh, Neil Young, Richard Ayoade, Tilda Swinton, Tom Burke, Tosin Cole

Summary: A shy but ambitious film student (Honor Swinton Byrne) begins to find her voice as an artist while navigating a turbulent courtship with a charismatic but untrustworthy man (Tom Burke). She defies her protective mother (Tilda Swinton) and concerned friends as she slips deeper and deeper into an intense, emotionally fraught relationship thatA shy but ambitious film student (Honor Swinton Byrne) begins to find her voice as an artist while navigating a turbulent courtship with a charismatic but untrustworthy man (Tom Burke). She defies her protective mother (Tilda Swinton) and concerned friends as she slips deeper and deeper into an intense, emotionally fraught relationship that comes dangerously close to destroying her dreams. [A24]… Expand

Director: Joanna Hogg

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Romance

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 120 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Tomris Laffy

Feb 3, 2019

The result is the best kind of fine art: heartbreaking, sophisticated and deeply cinematic all at once. Read full review

100

RogerEbert.com Monica Castillo

May 17, 2019

For me, The Souvenir is perhaps the most empathetic movie to capture that kind of bad romance, the way it seeps into every aspect of your life, the way it changes your behavior, how you hold onto the memories of good times when things get rough and how after it ends, you're a changed person. Read full review

100

Lucy Popescu

Sep 1, 2019

It’s multi-layered and beautifully observed – as much about the creative process as it is about obsessive love. It’s a glorious affirmation of how experience feeds artistic endeavour. Read full review

Dana Stevens

May 16, 2019

Ambiguous, finely shaded autobiographical dramas like this one don’t generally form the cornerstone of an expanded universe. But Honor Swinton Byrne, making her feature film debut, has created a character who’s complex (and at times maddening) enough to deserve further exploration. Read full review

Josh Larsen

Jun 13, 2019

Watching The Souvenir is like watching a friend drown, and being unable to help. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

May 20, 2019

But make no mistake: Hogg’s quirky coming-of-age tale (which teases a forthcoming sequel) is no misty remembrance of bygone days. Rather, it is a clear-eyed reflection on how hindsight — and true art — is always 20/20. Read full review

Anthony Ray Bench

May 13, 2019

To me, the film is boring, lifeless, too dreary for its own good, and has really annoying quirks and habits that just irritate me. Read full review

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User Reviews

Plastics

Oct 19, 2019

The direction is next level. Subtle yet completely engrossing. Tilda Swinton is still the best actress alive. Two scenes with her is enough to steal your heart. Young actors are very talented as well, both will have a very bright future fir sure

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

BrunoVn00

Sep 26, 2019

The Souvenir is one of the best films of the year. It is a romantic drama, that tells the story of a couple: The woman (played by Honor Swinton) is an aspiring filmmaker and the boyfriend (played by Tom Burke) is a mysterious drugaddict. I wasn't expecting some subject matters in this movieThe Souvenir is one of the best films of the year. It is a romantic drama, that tells the story of a couple: The woman (played by Honor Swinton) is an aspiring filmmaker and the boyfriend (played by Tom Burke) is a mysterious drugaddict. I wasn't expecting some subject matters in this movie and they were handled in a realistic and shocking way. The movie is very well-written, but its strongest point by far is its performances. Honor Swinton's acting is just wonderful, so was Tom Burke's acting too. These actors really give realism and depth to their characters through their performances. This is one of the best acted films I have seen in the year so far. The directing and cinematography, while both good, could've been better.

Overall this is an amazing character study film. Don't expect like an exciting plot because this movie has no plot. You will be left with nothing but great dialogue and terrific performances.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

amheretojudge

Jul 26, 2019

Walking into the film is like entering a well documented room that is screaming for attention and regretting.

The Souvenir Hogg is a reserved person in here. The persona of the writer-director, Joanna Hogg factors incredibly in a film so personal as such. And I don't mean just that it isWalking into the film is like entering a well documented room that is screaming for attention and regretting.

The Souvenir

Hogg is a reserved person in here. The persona of the writer-director, Joanna Hogg factors incredibly in a film so personal as such. And I don't mean just that it is derived from some real experience, but that it deals with something so personal for the characters too, that it doesn't, they don't even let you in. You remain a part of an audience throughout this journey. And on a larger scale, this might act as a double edged sword as not everyone would respond to such a formal invitation- if there is any. But the art form remains a mystery to be solved. And what the film made me feel makes me not to understand but just remember it. This is one of those experiences that will stay with you.

And the reason behind it, is Hogg's deeply religious virtue on deconstructing the romanticized version of itself. First, I thought she has unromanticized the genre by never agreeing to anything which happens to be the theme. No character, no surroundings, no situation, no philosophy, nothing seems to agree. Not even my favourite part of the narration that is the musical sequences that every now and then pops up, just like Julie's (Honor Swinton Byrne) reads. I never felt the love between the lead couple despite an excellent performance.

If anything, their equation seemed a dry rough patch persisting to heal as each of them tries to stay in one room and just be present. No spark just a warm soothing feeling that could actually be any relationship and not particularly just a romantic one. For a world so sane and sensible, Hogg flipped the coming-of-age genre through new lenses marking the first creatively fresh film I saw claiming this genre. The Souvenir speaks most of the time through the physicality present in nature, she says, she cries, she reads, should be accounted in for theatricality.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

DawdlingPoet

Nov 27, 2021

This is very much a subtle and arty kind of a film. The scenes move slowly and its mainly a sort of depiction of the main characters sense of personal isolation and their ability to open up to one another, thus its about secrets and trust to a if but small extent. I can certainly understandThis is very much a subtle and arty kind of a film. The scenes move slowly and its mainly a sort of depiction of the main characters sense of personal isolation and their ability to open up to one another, thus its about secrets and trust to a if but small extent. I can certainly understand why some may feel this is a bit bland and dull - its not the sort of film that exactly grabs you visually, its safe to say. This will only really appeal if your ok with dialogue heavy and perhaps introspective type films, I'd have thought. There is a fair bit of talk about film, i.e. film analysis, although its a drama rather than a documentary, of course.

I can also see why its regarded by some as rather self indulgent. I thought it was ok, slightly good and perhaps thought provoking but not entirely captivating. Its a thoughtful watch which won't appeal to all but for what it is, its ok.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Nov 30, 2021

This is one seriously overrated movie.
I fail to see what the critics see in this long winded, pretentious tale of addiction and troubled relationships.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

TVJerry

Jun 13, 2019

The ONLY interesting thing about this movie is that Honor Swinton Byrne works with her mom, Tilda (who also plays her mom in the movie). Honor plays a dull film student who's also in a relationship with a man who has serious issues (Tom Burke). However, this whole thing is played out inThe ONLY interesting thing about this movie is that Honor Swinton Byrne works with her mom, Tilda (who also plays her mom in the movie). Honor plays a dull film student who's also in a relationship with a man who has serious issues (Tom Burke). However, this whole thing is played out in quiet conversations with virtually no emotional investment and only the most sedate of interactions. A staid, tedious British version of mumblecore.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

Hildaflint1

Sep 17, 2020

It was the worst film I ever saw in my whole life! The writer is absolutely awful. This is not a decent film just a distorted mind of this female writer. Totally terrible film, avoid it and not to waste your time! I am so angry for this writer to even be aloud to produce such toxic rubbish.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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