(director/writer: Paul Andrew Williams; cinematographer: Vanessa Whyte; editor: Nina Annan; music: Raffertie; cast: Andrea Riseborough (Colleen), Brenda Blethyn (Elsie), Jason Watkins (John), Sandra Huggett (Mary); Runtime: 98; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Marie-Elena Dyche, Dominic Tighe; Meraki Films; 2025-UK)

“Urban loneliness film.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Brit filmmaker Paul Andrew Williams (“Bull”/”The Eichmann Show”) gives us a chilling Mike Leigh type of urban loneliness film.

The title is derived from James Thurber’s book, The 13 Clocks: “Time is for dragonflies and angels. The former live too little and the latter live too long.”

In an unnamed small town in England’s suburbs, the eighty-something poor widow Elise (Brenda Blethyn) lives alone in a bungalow. Her middle-aged son John (Jason Watkins) lives on his own and rarely visits, but sometimes calls. Elise hurt her wrist in a recent fall and the guilt-ridden John pays for private nurses to make home visits, but is not satisfied with their shoddy service. Her recluse neighbor Colleen (Andrea Riseborough), in her thirties, lives alone in a house she got through public assistance, with her large and menacing bull terrier named Saber. The melancholy Colleen feels sorry for her neighbor and volunteers to help her shop and keeps her company. Elise’s son John doesn’t trust her.

Their friendship grows, and we see these opposites interact in a trusting way on a daily basis.

Dragonfly provokes us to think about the fringe people, their loneliness, and their special needs. It’s not a sexy film, but it warns us that by ignoring these people and their basic needs we’re failing them.

The last 15-minutes comes with a shocking major twist, as it turns from a character study to a thriller that might not be appreciated by some viewers.

The two great performances by Riseborough and Blethyn make it memorable.

It played at the Tribeca Film Festival.

 
REVIEWED ON 6/25/2025  GRADE: B
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