Oliver Hermanus’s film hits all the right notes, but none is struck to perfection. Both Mescal’s and O’Connor’s performances are really solid, but the truth is that their love story lacks emotional depth. The motif of folk music as their connecting thread is nicely used, but the truth is that it does not manage to elevate the power of their relationship either.

In fact, the most significant element of this story is how Lionel Worthing’s (Mescal’s character) internal instability and physical comings and goings affect those who care most for him, whether family or lovers, from those in the US to those in Rome and Oxford.

Unfortunately, this ends up leading to quite a predictable, formulaic, and overly cheesy conclusion.