‘Modern Women’ Review – An Uneven Yet Witty Look At The Absurdity Of Modern Urban Life [AFF 2025]

Hugo Santa Cruz’s Modern Women is a bracingly honest exploration of life under the pressures of the London Housing Crisis, blending satire and social commentary into a compact but affecting narrative. The film follows six women over the course of a single day, capturing the ways their lives intersect and collide in a city that often seems designed to push its most vulnerable residents to the edge. At its heart, the film is a look at the absurdity in modern urban life, wrapped in Santa Cruz’s sharp, irreverent comedic style.

The story centers on Lily (Shirley Both), who has just returned to her flat-share after spending several weeks in a mental health hospital. Her attempt to reintegrate into everyday life forms a grounding point for the ensemble, as her struggles are intimate and emblematic of the broader societal pressures the film addresses. Ruth (Tstarnay) is a homeless street poet whose encounters with the city reveal both the harshness of life on the margins and the small moments of beauty and wit that punctuate it. Monica (Tash Alex) is a single mother living in a hotel, Lola (Alexandra Smith) navigates her own personal challenges, and Kristy Flower’s Sleeping Tattooed Girl adds yet another perspective on urban precarity. Over the course of the day, their stories intertwine, sometimes subtly, sometimes with deliberate collisions, highlighting both the interconnectedness of urban life and the individual struggles that can go unnoticed.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its ensemble cast. Shirley Both delivers a compelling performance as Lily; she brings this sharp observational humor that makes her both relatable and sympathetic. Tstarnay’s Ruth is another standout; her streetwise wit offers some of the film’s most memorable moments, she was great to watch, and her character deserves a movie all on her own. Alexandra Smith and Kristy Flower provide supporting threads that add texture and depth to the overall narrative. However, the ensemble structure is both a strength and a limitation. While it allows multiple perspectives and a richer social tapestry, not all characters and storylines are given equal weight. Some arcs feel underdeveloped, leaving the audience wanting more depth and closure, particularly with minor characters whose stories are intriguing but are only briefly touched upon.

Santa Cruz’s direction is unpolished, but intentionally so. There’s a rawness to Modern Women that suits its subject matter, and the film thrives on the chaotic, often uncomfortable, energy of its city settings. Its satire is pointed and incisive, exposing the absurdities of housing inequality and economic precarity without shying away from the darker realities beneath the humor. The film assumes a certain familiarity with UK housing policy and the lingering effects of austerity-era politics, which may leave international viewers slightly disoriented. Still, its themes of struggle and human connection are easy to relate to.

One limitation of the film is its runtime. At under 90 minutes, Modern Women feels more like a series of sketches than a fully fleshed-out feature. Many storylines, while compelling, could have benefited from more screen time, deeper development, and a more deliberate pacing that allows the audience to fully invest in the characters’ journeys. Despite this, the film’s brevity also contributes to its energy and momentum, ensuring that even when certain arcs feel rushed, the overall experience remains engaging. The film itself could have worked a lot better if it were longer overall

Modern Women is a refreshing, witty, and socially aware piece of cinema. Its charm lies in its ensemble performances, its candid and occasionally messy approach to storytelling, and its willingness to confront the absurdities and cruelties of urban life head-on. While uneven in places and assuming a degree of contextual knowledge, the film ultimately succeeds in capturing both the chaos and humanity of contemporary London living. For viewers willing to engage with its rough edges, it offers a meaningful, if imperfect, reflection on survival, community, and the complexities of modern life.

Modern Women had its World Premiere at the 2025 Austin Film Festival. 

Director: Hugo Santa Cruz

Writer: Hugo Santa Cruz

Rated: NR

Runtime: 69m