Been So Long 2018

In London’s multicultural Camden Town, Michaela Coel plays Simone, a single mother who raises her daughter with intelligence and independence. She runs a busy hair salon and keeps her own aspirations quietly within reach, prioritizing her child’s needs and finding contentment in a life that feels complete yet hints at something more.

Best friend Yvonne, Ronke Adekoluejo, believes Simone deserves more from life. To shake up her routine, Yvonne persuades her to go out and meet people. They head to Camden’s old haunt Bar Arizona, now run by the late owner’s son Luke Norris as Barney.

Inside Bar Arizona, they meet Raymond, a recently released ex-con who works as a street-cleaner. Arinz Kene plays Raymond, and he flirts with Simone over a game of draughts, waking her from a sexless stupor. The moment feels like a spark—unexpected, light, and full of possibility.

Although the first encounter is tentative, a seed is planted, a blend of serendipity and mutual infatuation that gradually blossoms into something more. Their first kiss marks a turning point, and they grow closer, navigating the early stages of a romance while the city hums around them.

Yvonne also finds a connection of her own, striking up a rapport with a courier who regularly delivers to her office and helping Simone with childcare along the way. The budding friendships and shared moments thread through their lives, giving each woman support as they navigate new territory.

One day, outside Simone’s daughter’s school, her ex Kestrel reappears, reawakening old wounds and bringing a difficult reminder of the past. This disruption threatens not only Simone’s relationship with Raymond but also her growing trust in Yvonne, forcing her to confront her fears and learn to let people in again.

Raymond carries his own burdens, including his old friend Wendell and the menacing presence of Gil, a young, troubled, knife-wielding figure who stalks him. Gil is portrayed by George MacKay, adding tension and danger to Raymond’s life as the pair try to navigate their complicated circumstances in a city that never stops moving.

The film culminates in a powerful, intimate moment—a duet between Simone and Raymond in a kebab shop—that crystallizes their bond and anchors their romance amid the broad tapestry of London life and its many, intertwining stories.

Across its sprawling urban canvas, the story stays rooted in warmth, resilience, and the slow, practice-like work of letting someone in again, even when the past lingers and fear whispers at the edges.