Flaminia Graziadei’s A Year in London is a bold, emotionally charged LGBTQ+ romance that trades clichés for something more intimate, more dangerous, and far more real. Set between London and Italy, this is a story about connection under pressure, where love simmers beneath ambition, fear and unspoken truths.
Nina Pons leads as a sheltered Italian fashion student thrown into the chaos and possibility of London life. She is wide-eyed but not naive, and Pons plays her with a quiet intensity that builds as the film unfolds. Opposite her, Melanie Liburd delivers a magnetic performance as her mentor, composed on the surface but carrying emotional weight underneath. Their chemistry is undeniable, simmering from the outset and igniting after a shared traumatic event that binds them in ways neither fully understands.
What follows is not a conventional romance. Graziadei leans into tension, restraint and emotional ambiguity. The relationship feels complicated and at times uncomfortable, exploring power, vulnerability and the blurred line between guidance and desire. It is this unpredictability that gives the film its edge.
Visually, A Year in London is striking. From the textured warmth of Basilicata to the sharp energy of London, every frame feels considered. Fashion is not just aesthetic dressing but part of the storytelling, reinforcing themes of identity and sustainability while grounding the characters in a creative world that feels authentic and current.
The pacing is deliberate, but it works in the film’s favour. This is a slow burn that asks for patience and rewards it with emotional depth. Supporting performances from Carlotta Morelli and Matteo Bassi add dimension, but the film belongs firmly to its two leads.
What elevates A Year in London is its honesty. Graziadei draws from lived experience to create something that feels personal yet widely relatable. It captures the confusion of new environments, the risk of opening up, and the quiet fear of naming what you truly feel.
This is not just a love story. It is about becoming, about stepping into identity, and about the moments that change you whether you are ready or not.
Rating: 4/5
A Year in London is in UK and Irish cinemas from 17th July.
