Empire of Light
Empire of Light
Hilary (Olivia Colman) is a cinema manager struggling with her mental health, and Stephen (Micheal Ward) is a new employee longing to escape the provincial town where he faces daily adversity. Together they find a sense of belonging and experience the healing power of music, cinema, and community.
Kevin Ward reviewedJuly 5, 2025
Olivia Colman and Michael Ward turn in incredibly touching performances in Sam Mendes saccharine sonnet to cinema. The screen glows with Roger Deakins always stunning cinematography. Though the tender and unlikely romance occupies most of the runtime, the meandering narrative never really establishes a central focal point. The script touches race, class, interracial relationships, mental health, sexual harassment, power dynamics; but these moments are so brief and are painted with such broad strokes that there’s not really much to glean from their inclusion. (Almost the exact same feeling I got from watching Armageddon Time). Still, the film is absolutely elevated by Colman and Ward. And damned if I can’t help but get sentimental over the power of cinema. As we all know, heartbreak feels good in a place like this.