Close My Eyes (1991)

Director:

Stephen Poliakoff

Writer:

Stephen Poliakoff (written by)

Release Date:

22 November 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

There are some relationships so taboo they're irresistible.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Deception | 1990s | Bra | Dancer

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

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
Choy-Ling Man	...	Maid
John Albasiny	...	Young Man
Marie Passarelli	...	Selina
Jan Winters	...	Doreen

Directed by
Stephen Poliakoff

Writing credits
Stephen Poliakoff		(written by)

Produced by
Thérèse Pickard	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Gibbs

Cinematography by
Witold Stok

Film Editing by
Michael Parkinson

Casting by
Joyce Gallie

Production Design by
Luciana Arrighi

Art Direction by
John Ralph

Costume Design by
Amy Roberts

Makeup Department
Anna Cobley	....	makeup artist
Sula Loizou	....	artistic makeup

Production Management
Alison Barnett	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ray Corbett	....	first assistant director
Richard Whelan	....	assistant director
Andrew Wood	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gordon Billings	....	props
Robyn Hamilton-Doney	....	head construction
Ron Higgins	....	props
Richard Jones	....	carpenter
Carol Kupisz	....	art department assistant
Maxie McDonald	....	property master
Andrew Palmer	....	props (as Andy Palmer)
Jeff Sullivan	....	painter

Sound Department
Peter Edwards	....	sound recordist
Ray Gillon	....	stereo sound advisor: Dolby
Peter Joly	....	dubbing editor
Malcolm Rose	....	boom operator
Hugh Strain	....	sound mixer

Stunts
Steve Dent	....	stunts
Tracey Eddon	....	stunts
Wayne Michaels	....	stunt arranger

Camera and Electrical Department
Pete Cavaciuti	....	camera operator
Rowan Clarke	....	best boy
Roger Lowe	....	best boy gaffer
Nick Lowin	....	assistant camera
Martin McCullough	....	electrician (as Martin McCullagh)
Dave McWhinney	....	best boy gaffer
Simon Mein	....	still photographer
Steve Potts	....	generator operator
Larry S. Prinz	....	gaffer (as Larry Prinz)
William Richards	....	set grip
Swavek Zukowski	....	camera loader
Swavek Zukowski	....	focus puller

Casting Department
Sally Osoba	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cynthea Dowling	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Paul Bingley	....	assistant editor
Gordon Brown	....	assistant editor
Imogen Pollard	....	assistant editor

Music Department
The Raphael Ensemble	....	music performers: chamber music
Andy Park	....	music producer

Other crew
Michael Brent	....	production accountant
Diane Chittell	....	production coordinator
Juliet Clarke	....	production secretary
Stan Fus	....	assistant location manager
Sarah Hayward	....	continuity
Richard Milward	....	office trainee
Keti Ngcobo	....	apprentice
Len Serpant	....	set assistant
Paul Van Der Weele	....	assistant production accountant
Angus More Gordon	....	location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Film Four International (presents)
• Beambright (as A Beambright Production)

Distributors

• Castle Hill Productions (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• Angel Films (Denmark)
• Barcino Barcino Films S.A. (Spain)
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (1991) (UK) (TV)
• Globo Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• Manuel Salvador

Other Companies

• Peerless Camera Company  titles and opticals (as Peerless Camera Co.)
• New Central Film Services  post-production
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  sound mixing
• Angel Recording Studios  score recording
• Media Film Services  camera equipment provided by
• Film Lighting Services  electrical equipment
• Metrocolor Laboratories  processed by (as Metrocolor [London] Ltd.)
• Blowup  stills processing
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sensuality, and for language

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:

Film Four International

Trivia:

Close My Eyes (1991) reworks many of the themes from Stephen Poliakoff's stage play 'Hitting Town.' There's still the plot of a torrid, brother/sister love affair, but it includes the upheaval of the London Docklands development, the late 80s recession, and the AIDS scare, which had just emerged out into the open.

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)

Soundtrack:

You Said It!

Alan Rickman fans start here.

I'm surprised this movie isn't rated higher - I can't think of anyone who's seen it who hasn't liked it. Women who see it are all mesmerised by Alan Rickman, who rather steals the show. For many women this was their first taste of Rickman, and it was love at first sight! He _is_ good, and he's cast in an interesting role (Saskia Reeves cheats on him when she has an affair with her brother, played by Clive Owen, who was probably more famous than Rickman at the time because he'd recently starred in a very successful TV drama series). The incest plot is treated very well - the script, acting and direction are excellent. The whole situation is set up so as not to shock, but to make us think, and I think the film succeeds.