Matthew Briody hits the books for his review of Peter Lavery's coming of age debut.
Is there anything more painful than a teenage crush? That flutter of butterflies when your heart yearns for someone for the first time? In All That Glitters, this wonderful, terrible experience is recounted in a most unusual manner.
Ryan (Elliot Grihault), an indifferent teenager who is more than happy to just get by, is hopelessly devoted to Jasmine (Flo Thompstone). Jasmine is playing the lead role in their school production of Romeo & Juliet. Ryan’s endless pining leads to him accidentally summoning the ghost of William Shakespeare (Paul Ready). Now, with the bard on his side, Ryan finds himself getting unexpected life lessons in love, literature and openness from the man who knows Romeo & Juliet better than anyone.
Described by DIFF festival director Gráinne Humphreys as “Sex Education meets Hamnet”, All That Glitters balances this absurd premise with wonderful comedic timing and a strong emotional core.
Writer/director Peter Lavery has examined youthful romance previously in his filmography. His multi-award-winning first short film, 2021’s Tequila Dream, told the story of Luke, a shy teenager who goes to his first ever nightclub with his friend, Alex. Luke meets a beautiful and quick-witted young woman there named Nora, and they spend the night together. Lavery’s 2023 short Alone With You looks at the impact of one man’s past relationship when he attempts to have a one-night stand with a woman he met on a night out. All That Glitters treads similar thematic territory to Tequila Dream through its awkward protagonist, Ryan. With the breathing room of a feature film, Lavery has the space to fully explore the highs and lows of a young romance.
Of course, every satisfying love story needs a great cast of supporting characters. These come in the form of Ryan’s friends Cassie (Anya Preston) and Fred (Rudi Goodman). Encouraged by Shakespeare, Ryan auditions for the role of Romeo in the school play. However, Hugo (James Craven) is the original choice before dropping out due to an injury. Directing this production is Philip (Tim Downie), the English teacher at school. Ryan is also concerned about Billy (Mark Lavery), a man in Jasmine’s life who is very close to her.
As Ryan, Elliot Grihault is a likeable lead who is impossible not to root for, emitting just the right amount of awkward energy. His portrayal of a self-conscious teenager being pulled out of his comfort zone is completely believable, a surefire way to bring back long-forgotten memories of blundering missteps.
Thankfully, Jasmine is presented as much more than a one-dimensional love interest for Ryan. Flo Thompstone brings many layers. Jasmine loves acting but also sings outside of school; she is a fiercely independent creative who will always speak her mind. In an early scene, she gets up in front of the whole English class and presents her (extremely valid) argument as to why a number of Shakespeare’s works are inherently patriarchal and are a product of their time. As Jasmine tells Ryan in the film, she is not a damsel who needs to be rescued by someone. At the post-screening Q&A at DIFF, Thompstone discussed how she found it easy to relate to Jasmine because Thompstone also has a strong interest in acting and performing. It is clear that Thompstone used this in her performance to present Jasmine in an authentic light.
Cassie is the voice of reason for Ryan, and Anya Preston enhances her character by adding a calming presence. Cassie is always ready to support her friend. Through Preston’s nuanced work on screen, there are subtle clues presented which suggest Cassie may be struggling with her own feelings. Tall, popular and confident, Hugo is not just a talented performer in this play within a film, he is also a star rugby player. Initially appearing as a romantic rival for Ryan to contend with, actor James Craven ensures there is more to Hugo than meets the eye.
Paul Ready’s Shakespeare is a comic relief character. While the ghost of Shakespeare helping a teenage boy is inherently a hilarious concept, Ready shows the bard’s vulnerable side too. It is not the tortured young artist that Joseph Fiennes played in 1998’s Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love. It may also move away from Paul Mescal’s portrayal in Hamnet, but the theme of loss and grieving is still addressed in this film. Appearing as something of a father figure to Ryan, Shakespeare tells Ryan to be patient with his father and speaks openly about the loss of his son.
Peter Lavery makes light work of pulling double duty on his first feature film. The script perfectly toes the line between comedy and drama while never losing the heart of the film. Lavery’s direction is precise and focused, carefully centred on his subjects. There is a beautiful shot in the film where Ryan and Jasmine sit on a bench in the train station. They are framed by passing trains, with tall trees and flowers hanging above their heads. This conjures up Shakespearean romantic imagery with the use of nature.
With its unique take on young love and outrageously farcical fun, All That Glitters is a gold-standard film that sparkles on screen.
All That Glitters premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival on 27th February 2026.
