In Person & Previews

Preview: Ray & Liz

+ Q&A with director Richard Billingham

In this astonishingly personal film, Richard Billingham delves into his Black Country upbringing to recreate visceral memories and desperate living in Thatcher’s Britain.

We’re delighted to announce this addition to the programme. The preview will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Richard Billingham, winner of the Best Debut Director prize at this year’s British Independent Film Awards.

UK 2018
Dir Richard Billingham
With Ella Smith, Justin Salinger, Patrick Romer
108min
Digital
Certificate 15
A New Wave release

Two decades since his iconic photography book Ray’s a Laugh documented his parents’ life in their council flat, Billingham returns to the same block on the fringes of Birmingham. Justin Salinger is the spitting image of Billingham’s dad, while Daniel Landin’s cinematography (Under the Skin) and Beck Rainford’s production design evoke a powerful sense of mood and place. Stunningly filmed in 16mm, Ray & Liz is a painstakingly vivid testament to Billingham’s memories from his (and his younger brother Jason’s) childhood, and the desolation and impact caused by the government’s austerity measures.

Sophie Brown

Tickets £15, concs £12 (BFI Members pay £2 less) on sale to BFI Champions Wed 30 Jan 11:30, to BFI Members Wed 30 Jan 12:30 and to the public from Thu 31 Jan 11:30.