James R | On 04, Oct 2021

Lashana Lynch is heading to the London Film Festival and BBC Two next week, as she stars in Debbie Tucker Green’s play Ear for Eye.

The film, which is based on the 2018 Royal Court stage production, follows Black families, friends, students and older generations navigating British and American society today. Visually inventive, Ear For Eye explores demonstrations vs direct action, violence vs non-violence, the personal vs structural and features an impressive soundtrack from artists including Run The Jewels, FKA Twigs and Kano.

It stars Lynch, fresh from No Time to Die, alongside Tosin Cole (Doctor Who, The Souvenir), Carmen Munroe (Desmond’s), Danny Sapani (Harlots, MotherFatherSon), Nadine Marshall (Sitting In Limbo) and Arinzé Kene (I’m Your Woman). You can see them in action at the London Film Festival but also on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, with the film premiering simultaneously all three on Saturday 16th October.

It joins a number of streaming titles at the festival, include Netflix’s Western The Harder They Fall, which opens the event, and Jane Campion’s The Power Of The Dog, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which is also a Netflix title, plus Joel Coen’s The Tragedy Of Macbeth, starring Denzel Washington, which is an Apple TV+ Original. The London Film Festival runs from Wednesday 6th October to Sunday 17th October 2021, with films playing both in cinemas and online as part of a virtual hybrid event.

Read our guide to the full line-up – or read on below for the Ear for Eye trailer:

 

Debbie Tucker Green’s Ear for Eye heads to London Film Festival and BBC iPlayer

28th August 2021

The world premiere of Ear for Eye, the second feature from filmmaker and playwright Debbie Tucker Green, will premiere simultaneously on the BBC and at the London Film Festival this October.

Tucker Green has adapted her highly acclaimed 2018 Royal Court stage production for the screen, with backing from BBC Film, BBC Two and the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery. From front rooms, kitchens and campuses to the streets, Ear For Eye follows Black families, friends, students and older generations navigating British and American society today. Visually inventive, Ear For Eye explores demonstrations vs direct action, violence vs non-violence, the personal vs structural and features an impressive soundtrack from artists including Run The Jewels, FKA Twigs and Kano.

Produced by Fiona Lamptey, the ensemble cast includes Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel, No Time To Die), Tosin Cole (Doctor Who, The Souvenir), Carmen Munroe (Desmond’s), Danny Sapani (Harlots, MotherFatherSon), Nadine Marshall (Sitting In Limbo) and Arinzé Kene (I’m Your Woman).

Green says: “Ear For Eye has been re-written for film bringing intimate portraits of characters to screen cinematically in a way that only film can. With original music composed by Luke Sutherland and tracks by Sons of Kemet, Run The Jewels, Little Simz, Kano and FKA Twigs the film intertwines beats, dialogue, visuals and music shifting through time and place.”

Tricia Tuttle, BFI London Film Festival Director adds: “Debbie’s first feature Second Coming screened in our First Feature Competition in 2014, and it is such a privilege to have her back to World Premiere Ear For Eye, and also to present the premiere in this way with the BBC. Audiences across the UK can see the film on BBC Two while we welcome Debbie and cast to the BFI for the Live Festival screening that evening. Debbie’s writing is so powerful – lyrical, complex, urgent- and this adaptation of her own work is a wonderful blend of theatre, performance and film, brought to life by a truly talented cast.”

The film will premiere on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Saturday 16th October, the same night that it also plays at the BFI Southbank. It joins a number of streaming titles at the festival, include Netflix’s Western The Harder They Fall, which opens the event, and Jane Campion’s The Power Of The Dog, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which is also a Netflix title, plus Joel Coen’s The Tragedy Of Macbeth, starring Denzel Washington, which is an Apple TV+ Original.

The 65th BFI London Film Festival takes place from Wednesday 6th October to Sunday 17th October 2021, with films playing both in cinemas and online as part of a virtual hybrid event.

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