I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning Review

Clio Barnard’s evocative I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning is led by a sparkling ensemble cast and propelled by a wonderful and eclectic soundtrack.

I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning has a blinding, ecstatic opener, driven by thumping club music and a wicked rendition of a song by The Streets. It’s Oli’s (Jay Lycurgo, of Steve) birthday, and his mates Pat (Anthony Boyle, of House of Guinness), Rian (Joe Cole, of Gangs of London), Conor (Daryl McCormack, of Good Luck to You, Leo Grande), and Shiv (Lola Petticrew, of Furious) are out to celebrate. Childhood friends growing up in Birmingham, the close knit group has been through a lot together. Tonight is like every other: they’ll drink plenty of pints, take drugs in the toilet, profess their love for one another, and stagger home to bed in the early hours.

After this propulsive beginning, which Barnard and cinematographer Simon Tindall (Riot Women) shoot with an unreserved excitement and energy that is reflective of their characters, I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning settles into its rhythm. It is consistently hectic—inevitable considering it’s an ensemble piece—but everything flows so well. Barnard has a firm grip on proceedings, letting the narrative and characters surge forward with real clarity. The characters themselves are penned perfectly by Walsh: there is Rian, now living in London, who has made vast money in stocks; Pat and Shiv, childhood sweethearts with two young kids; site manager Conor, a new Dad and whose anger issues worry his wife Sophie (Lucie Shorthouse, of Rebus); and small-time drug dealer Oli with his own addiction issues.

Each one is sketched with detail and vitality, brought to life by wonderful, nuanced performances from the cast, who share a rare chemistry that is so important in telling their characters’ stories. Whether it’s Rian’s inability to talk openly about his feelings or Conor’s drunken binges that encourage his angry tendencies, each actor captures their personalities brilliantly. I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning is an excellent set of character studies, but on a wider scale, it’s also a raging commentary on the English housing crisis. As the film’s beginning ends, real footage of council flat towers being demolished are interspersed with the ecstatic face of Oli.

Such planned destruction speaks to the decline of the group as they navigate early adulthood, as well as the deep divisions in British society and the classism rooted into its various systems. When the group visit Rian in London, for example, they sarcastically jibe that it’s the “land of opportunity”, amongst some ruder quips about bankers. I See Building Fall Like Lightning’s script isn’t perfect; in particular, it can be overly didactic in its messages, with certain monologues spelling out to the audience what exactly the film is about.

But those moments are few and far between. For the most part, I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning is a constantly engrossing drama that navigates the highs and lows of growing up, warts and all. Propelled by a soundtrack that features extra The Streets, Joy Orbison, UB40, and more, the onscreen energy is infectious from minute one. This is top-tier filmmaking all round, helping to craft a startling commentary on British society that is steeped in breathtaking realism.

I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning will be screened at the BFI London Film Festival on October 16-18, 2026. The film will be released in U.K. and Irish cinemas on December 4, 2026.