Breaking and Entering

In a crumbling part of London, a successful landscape architect named Will Francis crosses paths with Amira, a Bosnian widow whose teenage son has his own troubles. Their initial casual connection deepens into a romance that complicates both their lives. Will is drawn to Amira’s resilience and the quiet longing she carries, while Amira tries to create a sense of home for her son in the wake of trauma from the Bosnian war. The affair tests loyalties with Will’s circle, including his architect colleagues and friends like Oana and Liv. The film explores urban alienation, cultural collision, and how love can offer a counterweight to hardship. Ultimately it remains restrained and intimate, hovering between affection and doubt.

Directed by Anthony Minghella and released in 2006, Breaking and Entering is Minghella's intimate drama about cross cultural connections in a city of contrasts. It is an original screenplay by Minghella, not adapted from any prior work for the screen.

Critics offered mixed but generally thoughtful responses. Performances by Jude Law and Juliette Binoche were praised for warmth and chemistry, while the film’s mood and pacing drew some criticism. Thematically, it threads urban struggle, longing, trust, and how strangers can alter each other’s lives. The dialogue captures urban life precisely.

While not a blockbuster, the film contributes to conversations about modern city life and cross cultural relationships in Britain. Its restrained tone and strong performances linger in discussions of Minghella's late career, and it is often cited as a thoughtful exploration of regeneration, memory, and belonging in contemporary London today.