How ‘Rye Lane’ Perfectly Captures What's Been Missing from Rom Coms for Decades: Unbridled Joy

Raine Allen-Miller crafts a lively modern-day Black British romance.

Image: Searchlight Pictures

Do you remember when you last experienced pure bliss?

You woke up full of joy, brimming with uncontrollable optimism.

As you stepped out the door and prepared for the day ahead, you looked up at the electric blue sky and, at that moment, all your sorrows disappeared.

What follows is a perfect blissful day, as you'd see in a romantic comedy.

The barista was ready with your favorite coffee when you arrived.

Your commute was surprisingly fast, and you didn't encounter any useless interruptions the entire day.

You’ve stepped into the joyous zone, and your life will never be the same.

Get ready to be blown away by Rye Lane, Raine Allen-Miller’s uplifting love story that brings boundless bliss to life on screen. 

As a fan of romantic comedies, there hasn't been much to get excited about.

Despite the genre's potential for a comeback, there’s no denying the recent string of lackluster entries. 

Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel’s Shotgun Wedding, where an engaged couple falls victim to inept pirates during their budget destination wedding, is a predictable, formulaic disaster. 

In Meet Cute, Kaley Cuoco and Pete Davidson bring the magic, plus some time-traveling hi-jinks, as they attempt to recreate their first date, but the lean story fizzles out fast.

Fire Island and Bros give the genre a long-overdue LGBTQ+ makeover. Unfortunately, it did nothing to disrupt the basic rom-com DNA. 

But just as these crowd-pleasing films were about to settle off unceremoniously into the sunset, Rye Lane revived an almost dead genre with an overdue shot of adrenaline. 

Rom-com fans rejoice!  

Allen-Miller’s electric romance follows Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah), a pair of Gen Z South Londoners, as they walk and talk their way through painful breakups, mishap adventures, and fresh starts.

The exuberant first-time feature filmmaker draws from Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy’s 1995 classic Before Sunrise, to reverse engineer something unique to her Black British roots.

From the vivid color palette to the impromptu Jamaican backyard cookout to the varied subcultures, Allen-Miller leaves a distinctive imprint that radiates her dynamic sensibilities.

Image: Searchlight Pictures

A love letter to her South East London upbringing, Allen-Miller shot Rye Lane in Peckham, a predominately Black neighborhood and one of the most ethnically diverse areas of the city.

By employing exaggerated visuals, sharp camera angles, and captivating background characters, she brings the rom-com genre back to life. 

Her opening sequence is a stunning display of artistry that immediately establishes the film’s energetic tone and chic urban vibe. 

Allen-Miller uses impressive camera work to give audiences an intimate look into the private moments of a wide range of people, each with their unique looks and personal issues.

She does this through overhead shots panning across unisex stalls in a bustling art gallery.

Audiences see a woman changing her infant, people taking selfies, and Dom shedding tears while wearing a memorable pair of pink Chuck Taylor sneakers. 

He’s reeling from a nasty breakup with a girl he was with for six years, who left him for his beefcake best friend.

Yas overhears him and feels compelled to ask how he’s getting along. 

A few moments later, they reconnect while admiring an exhibit of giant smiles. They continue the conversation outside and become swept up in their underlying, undeniable attraction.

What comes next is an epic blind date that emulates a perfect blissful day.

Jonsson and Oparah’s comfortable, effortless chemistry cements the pair as bona fide rising stars.

This isn’t a typical story of how opposites attract. Yas is a free spirit, and Dom is an uptight traditionalist, yet theirs is a cosmic connection between two pre-destined souls.

They bond over crazy exes, fabulous taste in music, poorly planned break-ins, and culinary finds that are off the beaten path.

Their day transcribes as a foodie-induced jam session melding a hodgepodge of subcultures and artistic expression—a tribute to South London’s candy-colored world.

Image: Searchlight Pictures

Allen-Miller crafts a luscious soundtrack of modern-day young Black romance through iconic Black cultural touchstones such as The Wire and A Tribe Called Quest. There is also a Terence Trent D’Arby scene that will leave you in stitches.

Dom remarks when Yas’s ex discovers them at his place, “I don’t know how this day is going to end, but as weird as it’s been, it’s also been one of the greatest days ever.”

With a tight eighty-two-minute runtime, you’ll feel the same way after watching Rye Lane.

It’s a shame Searchlight Pictures didn’t give Allen-Miller’s delightful, lively directorial debut a theatrical release in the U.S.

A movie starring two dark-skinned Black leads that uplifts diverse neighborhoods rather than gentrifying them is the positive on-screen representation we need more of.

This timeless romance is a beautiful film and crowd-pleaser that can be enjoyed on a first—or even a one hundred and first—date, regardless of where you fall on Cupid’s spectrum.

Rye Lane refines the rom-com success formula with a huge dose of unbridled joy that will restore your faith in the genre.

Stream Rye Lane on Hulu.

To find more impressive artists like Raine Allen-Miller, consider these 12 Black female filmmakers who struck gold at Sundance this year.

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