RATING: A

LonRom Film Production presents a LonRom Film/Rain Dogs/Orange Pictures production. Directed by Flaminia Graziadei. Produced by Flaminia Graziadei, Andrea Maffini, and Valentina Quarantini. Written by Flaminia Graziadei and Laura Swain. Cinematography by Francesco Ciccone. Edited by Giuliana Sarli. 

Stars Melania Liburd, Nina Pons, Clementina Albertini, Shaun Ramos, Matteo Bassi, Carlotta Morelli, Karin Giegerich, Jahrhys Greenidge, Nagaieh Dad, and Nando Irene.

An aspiring fashion designer finds inspiration and love in a world she has never seen in this very emotionally charged drama from filmmaker Flaminia Graziadei. 

Olivia comes from a small region in Italy and works as a third-generation tailor in her family’s business. She has been given the chance to study fashion design in London and is ready for the challenge. Upon her arrival, she instantly hits it off with her new roommates Greta and Jodi. When she meets her professor, renowned fashion designer Nina Clarke, Olivia instantly finds herself consumed with both inspiration and slowly begins to fall for her.

However, Nina, who is still overcoming some trauma from the past, decides to keep things professional as a teacher. However, as Nina sees potential in Olivia and mentors her in creating genderfluid sustainable clothing, she soon realizes she can’t help her feelings for Olivia. However, when Olivia has to return home to take care of her ailing father, she is soon faced with a reality that her family may not be able to accept her feelings and who she is. 

A story about finding oneself with an amazing backdrop in the world of fashion, co-writer and director Flaminia Graziadei has crafted a heartwarming tale of an aspiring fashion designer who starts to have feelings for her mentor. We see both sides of the spectrum as it pertains to having a bit of a moral compass that eventually results in possibly finding true love in the heat of things, overcoming anything that stands in their way. 

Melanie Liburd’s Nina is a fashion designer turned professor who has had her share of bad relationships and it is that trauma that makes her vulnerable and afraid to explore another relationship. However, when Olivia, played by Nina Pons, enters her life, we see the slow transition between both women as in the case of Olivia, her family wants her to eventually marry local Paolo, played by Matteo Bassi. However, her instant attraction to Nina leads to her eventually finding herself in the midst of her education.

What Graziadei does is help us not only learn about Olivia and Nina on the surface, but in terms of their attraction, we see inside their heads as to what they are thinking. And the love sequences, which are the dreams of both characters, are nicely shot. Olivia seems to make the first move here but at first we see why Nina wants to keep it strictly about fashion. However, as the film progresses, we see Nina’s attempts to overcome her past trauma in an effort to possibly finally find the love she was meant to have until we get the left field twist of Olivia forced to return home because of her ill father. However, seeing these two together, you will want to root for them to ultimately get together…will it happen?

A Year in London is beautifully filmed, set in the world of high fashion in London, with excellent chemistry between leads Melanie Liburd and Nina Pons. While one opens up about her feelings, the other seems jaded at first, but it will make you want to root for them by the third act. 

The film will be released in UK theaters on July 17.