Private Project

Between the Lights

When skeptical scientist Alice falls for reluctant medium Jay, she's taken on an odyssey of love, loss and discovery that will turn her world upside down.

Between the Lights is a romantic drama with a liberal dose of the supernatural, in which we visit our characters over three consecutive Christmases.

It is set within the ancient walls of York and the stunning natural beauty of the Lake District.

UK-based sales consultant Piers Nightingale has recently seen the film and describes it like this: 'Between the Lights is a nuanced, supernaturally tinged romantic ghost tale with echoes of A Ghost Story and Truly Madly Deeply. You really feel like you've been on a meaningful journey by the end.' He also praised the performances of the two leads - stage supremo Ines de Clercq in her first leading screen role, and RADA graduate Samuel Edward-Cook (Peaky Blinders, Better, and Shane Meadows' The Gallows Pole).

  • Michael Groom
    Director
    The Merciless Beauty, The Selkie's Lover
  • Michael Groom
    Writer
    The Merciless Beauty, The Selkie's Lover
  • David Groom
    Producer
    The Merciless Beauty
  • Michael Groom
    Producer
    The Merciless Beauty, The Selkie's Lover
  • Ines De Clercq
    Key Cast
    Broadchurch, Cider with Rosie
  • Sam Edward-Cook
    Key Cast
    Shane Meadows' The Gallows Pole, Better, Peaky Blinders
  • Richard Riddell
    Key Cast
    include Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Legend, Endeavour, Bodyguard
  • Alexander Cobb
    Key Cast
    Moon Knight, The King’s Man, Grace, Mary Shelley
  • Alana Ramsey
    Key Cast
    House of the Dragon, The Crown, Bulletproof
  • Naveed Khan
    Key Cast
    Death on the Nile, Humans
  • Jason Langley
    Key Cast
    Da Vinci’s Demons, World Without End
  • Siu Hun Li
    Key Cast
    The Angel's Share, Johnny English Reborn
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Romance, Drama, Supernatural
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 44 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 20, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Michael Groom

BAFTA Connect member Michael Groom co-founded the Creative-England-supported production company Laal Blue Dot after he worked for many years in the film industry. He cut his teeth working for Michael Winterbottom and Andrew Eaton at Revolution Films, before working freelance - often on films produced by Plan B (Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner).

Michael also assisted world-class directors; he was the long-time assistant of David Michôd, who directed Animal Kingdom, War Machine and The King; as well as enjoying stints assisting Jean-Marc Vallée, Garth Davis and Matt Shakman.

Michael and his brother David have made short films together that have enjoyed festival success at top-tier festivals all over the world, including The Merciless Beauty (which screened at many festivals including Leeds IFF and the HP Lovecraft IFF), and The Selkie's Lover (with the voice talents of Shirley Henderson). Michael has always juggled writing with his freelance work, selling his first script to Damian Jones when he was just 24 – a film that was made by Vertigo Films and Protagonist Pictures and was nominated for the Golden Tiger at the Rotterdam International Film Festival. In 2019 Michael was a shortlisted finalist in the BBC Writersroom. In 2022 he was long listed for Netflix’s BreakOut scheme. In 2021-23 the brothers partook in the Evolve programme (Creative England / BFI) and in 2022-23 they were part of the Market Trader programme (Creative England / BFI). He wrote and directed Between the Lights - their debut feature film, completed in May 2023, and screening at the London Screenings expo in June 2023 (BFI/Film London).

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Director Statement

I wanted to make this film primarily to explore the themes of love, loss and discovery via an entertaining and enlightening story that also includes a dose of mysticism and spiritualism.

Magic realism as a narrative trope has long fascinated me, both when it’s used in novels and in filmmaking. The possessed road sign in L.A. Story, for example, is firmly and lovingly alluded to in this film, as is guardian angel Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life (in the unseen benign entity Jaoelwho lingers around Alice’s house). Then there’s the wraith-like doppelgänger version of Jay that haunts his visions in Christmas Two, and the myriad mystical signs and semiotics to decipher.

I have a fascination with the possibility of life after death, but am a sceptic too, and these traits are fully considered within the film.

I also wanted to make a film in two places dear to me: York and the Lakes (where I grew up). The film is mainly set in York, a city steeped in history. The mountains, lakes and valleys of the Lake District are not only aesthetically dramatic, but are also rife with a sense of ancientness, myth and mystery. The Neolithic stone circle of Long Meg is a perfect example of this synergy, and makes the ideal location for Jay’s proposal.

This creative and artistic vision combines to make an entertaining, touching, affecting, thought-provoking film.