Synopsis

Creatively stalled and trapped in a coercive relationship, Eve (Molly Vevers), is paired with guarded Celeste (Pooky Quesnel), in a life-drawing class. A conversation about seeing and being seen forces both women to confront the stories that have held them back.

A life model with brown hair in a bun sitting on a sofa, looking focused, with a person in the background sitting at an art board drawing, in a room with large windows and decorative items on the windowsill.
Two women in an art studio, one with dark hair holding a notebook and the other with red hair sitting next to an easel, surrounded by wooden chairs and art supplies.

Director’s statement

Life Class invites the audience to notice how connection emerges when we choose not to look away. At its centre is an exchange - one woman’s openness creates the conditions for the other to choose her own path. Set within a life drawing class, the film finds its drama in attention. The tactile world of the room - charcoal dust, worn boards, light falling on skin - grounds the emotional texture.

Shot anamorphically, the frame balances intimacy with distance, allowing moments of closeness while respecting the space between characters. Absence, glances, and held looks carry as much weight as dialogue. The film is guided by a belief that the camera finds the emotion, and the actors only need to inhabit the moment.

Director: Benjamin Verrall

Two people, a woman and a man, are sitting at a table laughing and enjoying a cup of tea. The woman wears an orange jumper, and the man is in a striped navy and white sweater. They are a room with wooden furniture.
Two women sit, facing away from the camera, observing a life model, who is sitting on a sofa in a community art studio.

Key art

A poster for the film "Life Class", with the title written in large, stylised letters and a textured background, with a woman’s face visible on a ring hanging from a chain.

Working with Juan Luis Garcia (Lighter Studios) is a rare creative joy. His approach begins with discovery: he watches the film closely, often many times, before asking thoughtful questions that encourage deep discussion and finding new perspectives. From there, Juan presents different visual directions, each one carefully considered and rooted in the spirit of the story. His process is thorough without ever feeling rigid, and his curiosity brings out details others might miss.

What’s most inspiring is seeing how Juan translates feeling into imagery - responding with designs that feel both surprising and somehow inevitable, as though it was always meant to be.

Cast

A woman with red hair, wearing a blue jacket and patterned scarf, sitting indoors with a window behind her, looking to the side with a serious expression.

Pooky Quesnel as “Celeste”

A close-up of a woman with brown hair and blue eyes, looking to the left, with a neutral expression. She is wearing gold hoop earrings and a black top.

Molly Vevers as “Eve”

A smiling woman wearing an orange jumper and red necklace. She is sat at an art easel and is looking to her right.

Yvonne Campbell as “Iris'“

A smiling man, wearing a dark sweater over a collared shirt, sitting at an art easel in a community art studio. Sunlight coming through a window illuminates the room.

Adrian Mcloughlin as “Alec”

A life model poses, draped in an orange silk fabric. She is sitting on a blue sofa, with a serious expression.

Katie Rivers as “Grace”

Woman with curly blonde hair wearing a colourful patterned jacket, standing next to an art easel, with some sculptures on a windowsill in the background.

Amelia Rowcroft as “Art Tutor”

Toffee Hammer makes films to tell stories that matter.

Our work explores what moves us: the complexities of being human. We make films to tell the stories we care about, and to help others tell theirs. We’re proud to collaborate with brilliant creatives to bring those stories to the screen.

Filmmaking connects us with others.  It keeps us growing, experimenting, and finding new ways to share our stories to a wider audience. If you would like to work with Toffee Hammer or learn more, get in touch and say hello.