Close My Eyes (1991)

Director:

Stephen Poliakoff

Writer:

Stephen Poliakoff (writer)

Release Date:

6 September 1991 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

After some years of tension, Richard begins a sexual relationship with his sister Natalie. Now married...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Eating | 1980s | Circular Staircase | Watching TV

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Alan Rickman	...	Sinclair
Clive Owen	...	Richard
Saskia Reeves	...	Natalie
Karl Johnson	...	Colin
Lesley Sharp	...	Jessica
Kate Gartside	...	Paula
Karen Knight	...	Philippa
Niall Buggy	...	Geof
Campbell Morrison	...	Scotsman
Annie Hayes	...	Receptionist
Maxwell Hutcheon	...	Interviewee
Geraldine Somerville	...	Natalie's Boss
Helen FitzGerald	...	Scottish Girl
Christopher Barr	...	Noley
Gordon Salkilld	...	Hotel Porter

Runtime:

Canada:108 min | Spain:108 min | USA:107 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Isle of Dogs, London, England, UK

Company:

Beambright

Goofs:

Continuity: When Natalie and Richard are fighting on the country lane, there is a rip in the right shoulder of her jacket. When they get back to the party, the rip has gone.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Natalie: You're late.
Richard: Sorry, it was unavoidable, trains on Sunday, you know what they're like.
Natalie: Unavoidable? I don't believe it. I've eaten all the food.
Richard: You've eaten all the food? Now that's serious.

Movie Connections:

References Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Well worth seeing

This film is an expanded and improved rewrite of Poliakoff's early play Hitting Town. I have always found Poliakoff's plays filmic; this reworking on film is more interesting than the play, although the starkness of the incest in Hitting Town was probably more shocking, and the 1970's UK audience was probably more susceptible to shock.

Three great performances in this film - Saskia Reeves, Clive Owens and Alan Rickman.

Poliakoff has a great knack of mixing the profound, the profane and the mundane. One telling scene in Richard's flat has Richard and Natalie agonising over their tryst, then making love, while in the background a rain-affected test match (cricket) fails to happen and then starts to happen again. Unforgettable symbolism - Bergman would have used it if only the Swedes played cricket.

This film is well worth seeing.