The Souvenir: Part II 2021
British director Joanna Hogg returns with the sequel to her 2019 film The Souvenir, expertly exploring a young woman’s first love. The Souvenir Part II delves into the grieving process following that first love, as the main character, film student Julie, embarks on a journey of creativity after experiencing loss. The story, which bears traces of Hogg’s own life in 1980s London, also features Tilda Swinton in the role of Julie’s mother, alongside her real-life daughter Honor Swinton Byrne. Hogg’s reflection on her youth 30 years later delicately portrays how coming to terms with the ghosts of the past is a skill to be acquired in adulthood. Premiering at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors’ Fortnight section, The Souvenir Part II manages to refresh the ongoing story from where it left off.
