I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning

For many of us (especially those under 30), the expectation of being able to afford a reasonably comfortable life is slipping away, ironically, and all too regrettably, becoming little more than a dream in a very real sense. It’s a change that seems to be occurring worldwide, too, as economic disparity continues to take root around the globe. And one locale in which that trend has been occurring is Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK. This development has affected working class residents particularly hard, especially as large swaths of affordable housing complexes have been demolished in favor of pricey new upscale residences in an area where wages have not kept pace. Those are among the circumstances explored in this latest effort from director Clio Barnard, the story of five longtime blue collar friends as they struggle to get by as they approach 30. In addition to their fiscal challenges, they also wrestle with various personal ordeals that only seem to grow worse as they get closer to middle age – and further away from their dreams. In many ways, this plays like a latter-day Brat Pack film (a la “St. Elmo’s Fire” (1985)) infused with a hefty dose of Gen Z angst and lots of talk about personal finances (though none of them are living in their parents’ basements, at least not yet). Their individual challenges are all fairly formula in nature – substance abuse, career frustration, relationship issues – as well as one who suffers from financial guilt after striking it rich through inheritance. While these story threads aren’t totally predictable, they’re certainly familiar and not terribly original, despite the generational aspects that help to characterize and define them here. What’s more, the narrative takes an overlong time to get down to business, spending too long at the outset on images of socializing and idle chitchat (but at least set to a catchy soundtrack). The connections between the characters sometimes feel a little strained as well, occasionally placing them in situations that seem somewhat improbable. The overall result, then, is largely a modestly engaging tale that offers some eloquent observations about fading hopes, dashed dreams and the unfairness of life but that is otherwise fairly standard fare when it comes to learning about the challenges of contemporary living, particularly in matters of adulting. Given that, “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning” can probably best be described as a B-side streaming option but not something one should rush out and pay premium theater prices to watch.