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Secret Friends

  • 1991
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
159
YOUR RATING
Secret Friends (1991)
DramaFantasy

During a train ride, an anxiety attack leads middle-aged illustrator John (Sir Alan Bates) into an identity crisis. As his marital problems merge and blur into his fantasy life with prostitu... Read allDuring a train ride, an anxiety attack leads middle-aged illustrator John (Sir Alan Bates) into an identity crisis. As his marital problems merge and blur into his fantasy life with prostitutes and call girls, a long-dormant secret friend of his childhood surfaces in his delusion... Read allDuring a train ride, an anxiety attack leads middle-aged illustrator John (Sir Alan Bates) into an identity crisis. As his marital problems merge and blur into his fantasy life with prostitutes and call girls, a long-dormant secret friend of his childhood surfaces in his delusions. Writer and Director Dennis Potter viewed John as "a victim of what he himself has creat... Read all

  • Director
    • Dennis Potter
  • Writer
    • Dennis Potter
  • Stars
    • Alan Bates
    • Gina Bellman
    • Frances Barber
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.0/10
    159
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Dennis Potter
    • Writer
      • Dennis Potter
    • Stars
      • Alan Bates
      • Gina Bellman
      • Frances Barber
    • 1User review
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos27

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    Top cast15

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    Alan Bates
    Alan Bates
    • John
    Gina Bellman
    Gina Bellman
    • Helen
    Frances Barber
    Frances Barber
    • Angela
    Tony Doyle
    Tony Doyle
    • Martin
    Joanna David
    Joanna David
    • Kate
    Colin Jeavons
    Colin Jeavons
    • Vicar
    Rowena Cooper
    • Vicar's Wife
    Ian McNeice
    Ian McNeice
    • First Businessman
    Davyd Harries
    Davyd Harries
    • Second Businessman
    Niven Boyd
    Niven Boyd
    • BR Steward…
    Martin Whiting
    • Young John
    Roy Hamilton
    • Singer
    Dave Swift
    • Musician
    • (as David Swift)
    Nicholas Russell-Pavier
    • Musician
    Colin Ryan
    • Musician
    • Director
      • Dennis Potter
    • Writer
      • Dennis Potter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    5.0159
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    Featured reviews

    9nyanbatcat

    great lynchian cinema

    Dreamlike, abstract, jazzy, mysterious, non-linear storytelling, the dualitynof people and many more qualities would destribe this movie. But I think they are best summed up as lynchian.

    Right from the beginning amazingly utilized camerawork, editing and sound editing pulled me in. Especially The protagonist, John, often speaks poetically.

    The mystery starts right away and keeps unfolding quite steadily.

    I do admit, it can feel tedious If you cant tell whats real, If the viewers trust is betrayed over and over. But Secret Friends managed to hold my interest the entire time. The trick is, that even imagined scenes add context, flesh Out the characters, progress the story. I know, seems obvious, but apparently it really isnt (im looking at you "Oculus"). Even If you might not be sure what is currently happening, you still understand the overall Story and how things match up. You just get handed more and more pieces. It will however require attention, as many things take time to connect or pay off. This attentive and intuition-driven Viewing experiences also reminded me a lot of Lynch's movies.

    Alan Bates delivers a fantastic Performance, but Gina Bellmann knocks it out of the park.

    I cant believe the bad ratings this has and I also cant believe how little attention this movie receives.

    Only in the third act, there are a few scenes that made my interest waver a bit. There are still more pieces to the puzzle being added, when i wished the story would simply use the pieces already in play. What I mean is, that foreshadowing and a satifying Setup+Playoffs need time. And not every aspect got the time it deserved.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Quotes

      Helen: The past is one thing you can do nothing about.

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    FAQ12

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 25, 1992 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hemliga vänner
    • Filming locations
      • Kent, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Channel Four Films
      • Whistling Gypsy Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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