Keiran Goddard doesn’t live in Birmingham anymore. The London-based writer left Shard End long ago, but his heart may never have. His second novel, ‘I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning’, was released two years ago, and follows five friends in a working-class area of Birmingham not too dissimilar from where Keiran grew up.
‘I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning’ delves into the lives of Patrick, Shiv, Rian, Oli and Conor, childhood friends who all grew up together. Only one was able to make it out of the estate, but all still cling to a shared past. Upon release, it was praised for its “extraordinary writing” and was even nominated for the Gordon Burn Prize.
I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning
The Birmingham-set novel is now a major motion picture—and has already won its first award, the Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Clio Barnard (‘The Selfish Giant’, ‘Ali & Ava’) and adapted by Enda Walsh (‘Disco Pigs’, ‘Small Things Like These’), it releases on Friday, December 4.
Touching upon similar themes of UK housing, gentrification, unfulfilled dreams and other adult struggles, ‘I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning’ stars Anthony Boyle, Joe Cole (of ‘Peaky Blinders’ fame), Jay Lycurgo, Daryl McCormack and Lola Petticrew, and was shot in and around Birmingham.
In fact, it was Keiran Goddard’s brother, Tom, who helped the film crew integrate with the local community—using The Crown in Erdington as the production hub and where an 800-person large open casting call took place. You can guarantee a lot of Brummies will be heading to the cinema when this drops.
Fill the World
‘I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning’ is far from Keiran Goddard’s only work, however. His debut novel ‘Hourglass’, longlisted for the 2022 Desmond Elliott Prize, is described as a “revolutionary love story”, while he has also written two poetry collections. But I’m eagerly anticipating his third novel, ‘Fill the World’, due February 4, 2027.
Swapping modern-day Birmingham for mid-twentieth-century Chicago, ‘Fill the World’ delves into the vivid imagination of retired janitor-cum-outsider artist, Henry Darger—who secretly created a sprawling, vivid world in which the Vivian Girls fight against evil forces in the Realms of the Unreal… Keiran Goddard isn’t just one of Birmingham’s most exciting writers, but the world’s.
‘I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning’ will release in UK cinemas on Friday, December 4, 2026.
