The film premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival where it received rave reviews . '' Time Out '' said " The one truly great movie to emerge so far ( from Cannes ) .... . this film is as personal , as universal in its relevance , and as gloriously cinematic as anything he has done " and '' The Guardian '' called it " a British masterpiece , a brilliant assemblage of images that illuminate our past . Not only does it tug the heart-strings but it 's also savagely funny . " BBC TV film critic Mark Kermode nominated it as the best overall film of 2008 on his " Kermode Awards " section of '' The Culture Show '' . In 2018 Kermode placed the film at number 1 in a list of his favourite films of the decade ( 2008-2018 ) . Duane Byrge from '' The Hollywood Reporter '' lauded the film as " poetically composed " and a " masterwork "
2008 Cannes Film Festival
2008 Cannes Film Festival
Of Time and the City