I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning, adapted from author Keiran Goddard’s second novel, has recently screened in the UK following its presentation at the Cannes film festival. Screenwriter Enda Walsh and director Clio Barnard collaborated on the project, which centers on five lifelong friends whose lives diverge dramatically after their housing estate undergoes demolition and redevelopment into new residential complexes.
The narrative framework involves the demolition of a tower block serving as a pivotal moment that sends the friend group into separate adult trajectories. One character, Rian, becomes a financial success and invests in the new development that replaces the original estate, while another, Patrick, works in precarious employment and advocates for housing as a fundamental right. The ensemble drama explores the tensions and conflicts that emerge as the characters navigate diverging economic circumstances and life choices, presenting a complex story without clear villains or straightforward resolutions.
Godard’s original novel posed adaptation challenges due to its structure as a series of interior monologues with minimal dialogue and plot movement. Barnard acknowledged the difficulty of translating this material to screen while maintaining its thematic concerns about personal history, systemic inequality, and working-class experiences. She framed the antagonist as the broader economic system rather than individual characters, emphasizing the bonds of friendship and shared humor that connect the group despite their differences.
Barnard’s filmmaking has consistently focused on marginalized communities and social outsiders. Her previous work includes The Arbor, a documentary about playwright Andrea Dunbar, and The Selfish Giant, a coming-of-age drama set in economically depressed areas. With this film and her earlier work Ali & Ava, she has incorporated elements of hope and optimism while maintaining unflinching depictions of economic hardship. Goddard expressed confidence that audiences exist for stories depicting common working-class experiences, particularly as economic precarity increasingly affects broader demographic groups.
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