Close My Eyes (1991)

After some years of tension, Richard begins a sexual relationship with his sister Natalie. Now married, the relationship proves dangerously obsessional. Their private intensity (& working ... See full summary »

Director:

Stephen Poliakoff

Writer:

Stephen Poliakoff

Stars:

Alan Rickman, Clive Owen, Saskia Reeves

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Rickman	...	Sinclair
Clive Owen	...	Richard
Saskia Reeves	...	Natalie Bryant
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

Storyline

After some years of tension, Richard begins a sexual relationship with his sister Natalie. Now married, the relationship proves dangerously obsessional. Their private intensity (& working class origins) contrast with the middle-class, inhibited, stuffy public scenes we see in the Richmond world into which Natalie has moved with her marriage. As the guilt and intensity of the siblings increases we seem to be heading for disaster, a forboding which increases when Natalie's husband Sinclair finds out.

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | kite | suicide attempt | happiness | deception | 

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Taglines:

There are some relationships so taboo they're irresistible.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sensuality, and for language

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Com os Olhos Fechados

Filming Locations:

Isle of Dogs, London, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

$135,893 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Four International, Beambright

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard gives a book by P.D. James to his boss. Clive Owen later appeared in Children of Men, based on one of James' novels.

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Goofs

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.

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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.

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Connections

References Rosemary's Baby (1968)

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Soundtracks

"Rio Carnival"
(uncredited)
Music by Frank McDonald and Chris Rae
De Wolfe Music Ltd

User Reviews

Spellbinding

The film is really haunting and keeps you spellbound. While the film appears to portray sex scenes for nudity's sake, that's not really what is going on.

Okay, okay, this is no Pulitzer Prize winner and Alan Rickman, Clive Owen, and Saskia Reeves can act better than they do in this movie. Butt, I think they each brought so much into the picture that other, less talented, actors would have failed to make this film work as well as it did.

The dynamic between Natalie, her brother Richard, and her husband Sinclair is very strange. If you let yourself go and immerse yourself into the story, then you can enjoy it.

The story is about very taboo subject matter, at the time when AIDS/HIV finally came into the public consciousness. But, I do think the screenplay by Stephen Poliakoff is very well written and the film strongly succeeds because he also directed it.

I can compare the story to that of Jane Campion's "The Piano". It is risqué, bizarre, and seemingly shallow. It is also thoroughly compelling. The characters are otherworldly and mysterious, yet very commonplace. You can almost identify with them and by the end of the movie you will find yourself wanting to know more. It is as if you have been looking into a snow globe at a fantasy world come to life, just on the other side of the looking glass. Everything is madness for this trio....

"Close My Eyes" is a journey into the "What if ? ". The most difficult question is, "Why ? ". Only Natalie and Richard can answer that question, or can they? If you are a fan of Clive Owen, Alan Rickman, and/or Saskia Reeves, check it out.