Albatross (2012)

45% of critics liked it
(22 reviews)
41% of users liked it
(851 ratings)

Directed by BAFTA-nominated Niall MacCormick (Margaret Thatcher: The Long Road to Finchley), Albatross is a funny and moving coming-of-age story starring Sebastian Koch (The Lives of Others, Black Book), Felicity Jones (Cemetery Junction), Julia Ormond (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and… More Directed by BAFTA-nominated Niall MacCormick (Margaret Thatcher: The Long Road to Finchley), Albatross is a funny and moving coming-of-age story starring Sebastian Koch (The Lives of Others, Black Book), Felicity Jones (Cemetery Junction), Julia Ormond (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and newcomer Jessica Brown-Findlay, a leading light in Screen International's prestigious UK Stars of Tomorrow list. My Summer of Love meets An Education, the film tells the story of a family whose world is turned upside down when the beautiful and rebellious Emelia explodes into their lives. -- (C) Official Site

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Niall MacCormick
Written By: Tamzin Rafn
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 13, 2012 Limited
On DVD: Apr 24, 2012
Studio: Sundance Selects

Critic Reviews

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Charmingly low-key, the British coming-of-age drama "Albatross" offsets slack plotting with creative casting and sensitive performances.
Ian Buckwalter, NPR
The lack of subtlety makes the story's familiar beats only more obvious.
Mary F. Pols, TIME Magazine
The performances are compelling (although Jones is underused) but the thin narrative is less instructive of the strange way female friendships operate than of the way stories get recycled.
Michelle Orange, Village Voice
Albatross shifts from indie fairy tale to farce, only to accept its fate as a coming-of-age melodrama.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
There are dimensions to Emelia that are welcome, but often rudely condensed by director Niall McCormick, who burns through the picture in 85 minutes, never lingering long enough on domestic tension or behavioral awareness.
Alan Bett, The Skinny
A serving of teenage angst with a side order of syrup which, like the films of John Hughes, treats both characters and audience with respect and affection.
Todd Jorgenson, Cinemalogue.com
Newcomer Brown Findlay brings some laughs and energy to an otherwise predictable tale of family strife that is modestly compelling but ultimately forgettable.
David Fear, Time Out New York
Innocence is lost -- as well as 90 minutes of your precious, precious time.
Andrew Schenker, Slant Magazine
Yes, the title of Albatross is a metaphor. In fact, the eponymous bird shows up not as a figurative chokehold around the neck of simply one character, but at least three.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Beautifully filmed and acted, but lacking a central perspective.
Graham Young, Birmingham Post
German star Koch (The Lives of Others) has a Burton-lite intensity, with Julia Ormond well cast as his wife and Beth's mother.
, Empire Magazine
A startling performace from Findlay doesn't quite make up for a disappointing third act.
Lisa Giles-Keddie, Real.com
Brown Findlay is Wish You Were Here's Lloyd in spirit, passion and razor-sharp wit, but with far more, darker layers to her character.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
Heavy-handed and unconvincing, it's Fawlty Towers without the jokes.
Anthony Quinn, Independent
Niall MacCormick's debut feature has a puppyish eagerness that doesn't quite deliver.
Allan Hunter, Daily Express
A little too neat and obvious for its own good but the sassy wit of the dialogue is fun and Findlay is a rising star.
Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail [UK]
Predictable and too much like Wish You Were Here, My Summer Of Love and An Education, all of which were stronger; but the performances are modestly engaging.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
It's an interesting premise; though despite being evidently autobiographical in origin, the fictional treatment has made it look sentimental and unreal.
Antonia Quirke, Financial Times
A coming-of-age and end-of-marriage story.
Adam Woodward, Little White Lies
Strong performances give wings to a featherweight story.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Eric H

There are two things British films do well; grit and charm, and this has oodles of the latter without a hint of schmaltz or sentimentality. "Downton Abbey" star Jessica Brown Findlay and Felicity Jones are two teens who become friends over a summer in a small coastal town.… More
There are two things British films do well; grit and charm, and this has oodles of the latter without a hint of schmaltz or sentimentality. "Downton Abbey" star Jessica Brown Findlay and Felicity Jones are two teens who become friends over a summer in a small coastal town. Little does Jones know but Findlay is shagging her father, a writer living off the success of a twenty year old novel, played brilliantly by the great German actor Sebastian Koch. Findlay and Jones absolutely glow on screen and I predict these two are going to become household names very soon.
Christopher H

Albatross is your basic coming-of-age story made only slightly less average by a young and strong female cast of Jessica Brown-Findlay and Felicity Jones, both of whom remain in control of their performances.
ernest e

Slow start and pace but very solid as you start to feel the rhythm. Tasty development with multiple layers of light humorous drama entertainment. No goal no reason nothing to gain or lose, it is just the way it is. Its quality is in the way it covers the minor details of minor simple… More
Slow start and pace but very solid as you start to feel the rhythm. Tasty development with multiple layers of light humorous drama entertainment. No goal no reason nothing to gain or lose, it is just the way it is. Its quality is in the way it covers the minor details of minor simple things of life nothing big happens here. The constant minor sound of birds in background is nice if you pay attention to it.