# Only You (2018 film)
**Only You** is a 2018 romantic drama directed by Harry Wootliff, her first feature film, starring [Laia Costa](https://www.edgepedia.org/laia-costa) as Elena and [Josh O'Connor](https://www.edgepedia.org/josh-oconnor) as Jake, a couple in Glasgow whose whirlwind relationship is tested by their struggle to conceive a child. It was a British-Swedish co-production that premiered at the [BFI London Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/bfi-london-film-festival) and won two British Independent Film Awards.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / writers | Harry Wootliff (director, screenplay, story); Matthieu de Braconier (story)[1](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/only-you) |
| Leads | Laia Costa as Elena Aldana, Josh O'Connor as Jake[2](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/only-you/cast/2030328860/) |
| Setting | Glasgow; the couple meet on New Year's Eve arguing over the same taxi[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7531138/) |
| Runtime / certificate | 119 minutes; certificate 15 in the UK[4](https://www.kinoafisha.info/en/movies/8356478/) |
| Premiere | 19 October 2018, BFI London Film Festival, First Feature Competition, world premiere[1](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/only-you) |
| UK release | 12 July 2019, distributed by Curzon Artificial Eye[5](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/only-you-review-love-forged-childlessness) |
| Awards | Two British Independent Film Awards: Best Actor (Josh O'Connor) and Best Debut Director (Harry Wootliff); nominated for one BAFTA Award[6](https://www.filmgate-films.com/only-you) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7531138/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
On [New Year's Eve](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-years-eve) in Glasgow city center, Elena, a 35-year-old Spanish office worker, and Jake, a 26-year-old English PhD student and part-time DJ, argue over the same taxi, share the ride, and spend the night together at Elena's flat[7](https://www.londonnet.co.uk/films/only-you/) • [8](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/only-you-2018-film-review-by-jane-fae). The one-night stand develops into a committed relationship; within weeks they are living together, and soon they begin trying for a baby[1](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/only-you).
Elena begins the relationship with a small lie, telling Jake she is 29 rather than 35, and the nine-year age gap becomes central to the story once they turn to IVF treatment after failing to conceive[8](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/only-you-2018-film-review-by-jane-fae) • [9](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/only-you). The film follows the couple from giddy happiness to despondency as each IVF appointment and passing month brings anticipation and grief, and the idea of a family starts to overshadow the relationship itself[5](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/only-you-review-love-forged-childlessness) • [1](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/only-you).
## Production
Shooting ran from 19 September to 22 October 2017 on location in Glasgow[10](https://www.crew-united.com/en/Only-You__234198.html). The film was produced by The Bureau, Crybaby Pictures, and Synchronicity Films, with Film i Väst also credited among the production companies[10](https://www.crew-united.com/en/Only-You__234198.html) • [4](https://www.kinoafisha.info/en/movies/8356478/). The producers were Rachel Dargavel, Matthieu de Braconier, Tristan Goligher, and Claire Mundell[1](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/only-you).
The key crew included Shabier Kirchner as director of photography, Tim Fulford as editor, Andy Drummond as production designer, and Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch as composer[11](https://cineuropa.org/en/film/359701/). [Elvis Costello](https://www.edgepedia.org/elvis-costello)'s song "I Want You", from his 1986 album *Blood & Chocolate*, appears twice in the film, including the scene where the couple first dance[5](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/only-you-review-love-forged-childlessness) • [8](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/only-you-2018-film-review-by-jane-fae).
## Release
*Only You* had its world premiere on 19 October 2018 at the BFI London Film Festival, where it was selected for the First Feature Competition[1](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/only-you). It later screened at festivals including Göteborg (January 2019), Newport Beach (April 2019), and Sydney (June 2019)[12](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7531138/releaseinfo/). The UK theatrical release followed on 12 July 2019 through Curzon Artificial Eye, in cinemas and on demand[5](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/only-you-review-love-forged-childlessness). Further releases included the Netherlands (15 August 2019), France (8 October 2020), and Russia (13 February 2020)[4](https://www.kinoafisha.info/en/movies/8356478/).
## Reception
The film holds a 100% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes from 25 reviews, with a critics consensus calling it beautifully filmed and powerfully acted, and an audience score of 90%[13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/only_you_2018). On IMDb it rates 6.7/10 from about 4,200 votes[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7531138/). Its worldwide gross was $98,669[4](https://www.kinoafisha.info/en/movies/8356478/).
Critics singled out the two lead performances. Pamela Hutchinson, writing in [Sight and Sound](https://www.edgepedia.org/sight-and-sound), described the emotions as exhilaratingly authentic and praised Costa, known for *Victoria* (2015), as exceptional, and O'Connor, known for *God's Own Country*, as a natural brooder[5](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/only-you-review-love-forged-childlessness). [Mark Kermode](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-kermode) called it a terrifically engrossing drama about two wholly believable characters, while some reviewers noted weaknesses in the screenplay, with one critic finding the script occasionally buckling under the story's psychological weight[14](https://mubi.com/en/films/only-you-2018/critics-reviews).
At the 2019 British Independent Film Awards the film won Best Actor for Josh O'Connor and Best Debut Director for Harry Wootliff[6](https://www.filmgate-films.com/only-you). It was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British writer, director or producer[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7531138/).
## References
1. [British Council UK Films Database: Only You](https://filmsandfestivals.britishcouncil.org/projects/only-you)
2. [Only You - Full Cast & Crew, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/only-you/cast/2030328860/)
3. [Only You (2018), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7531138/)
4. [Only You 2018, Kinoafisha](https://www.kinoafisha.info/en/movies/8356478/)
5. [Only You review: a love forged in childlessness, Sight and Sound (BFI)](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/only-you-review-love-forged-childlessness)
6. [Only You, Filmgate Films](https://www.filmgate-films.com/only-you)
7. [Only You - Film Review and Listings, LondonNet](https://www.londonnet.co.uk/films/only-you/)
8. [Only You (2018) - Film Review, Eye For Film](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/only-you-2018-film-review-by-jane-fae)
9. [Only You - Parents' Guide & Movie Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/only-you)
10. [Only You, Crew United](https://www.crew-united.com/en/Only-You__234198.html)
11. [Only You, Cineuropa](https://cineuropa.org/en/film/359701/)
12. [Only You (2018) - Release info, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7531138/releaseinfo/)
13. [Only You (2018), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/only_you_2018)
14. [Only You (2018) critic reviews, MUBI](https://mubi.com/en/films/only-you-2018/critics-reviews)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Comedy and romantic films (individual works) › Comedies of 2017 to 2018 › Titles K to W*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license