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Incest is not an easy subject to tackle, but it's a testament to the quality of actor Tim Roth's directorial debut that his sound man almost ruined an especially poignant take by sobbing into his own mic. Based on the novel by Alexander Stuart, who also wrote the script, Roth's adaptation looks set to ignite a similar controversy to that sparked by the book when it first appeared in 1989. Set in England's lonely Devon countryside, Roth's film introduces us to a seemingly normal nuclear family newly transplanted from London. The brooding, precocious adolescent son Tom (Freddie Cunliffe) soon stumbles upon a family secret that hurls him even more deeply into confusion and depression. The birth of a new baby sister complicates matters. When Tom sets out
to acquire proof of what he only suspects, the story spirals to a shocking
conclusion. Lara Belmont as the older sister Jessie, Tilda Swinton as
the mother and Ray Winstone as the father join newcomer Cunliffe in
moving portrayals of a family in growing disarray. |
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"It's a film about a family, about children growing up," says Winstone, who himself has a 17-year-old daughter. "Somebody told me about this poster in Sweden. There are four men: one's a coach driver, one's a lawyer, one's an architect, one's a docker. And it says, 'One in four men in Sweden abuse. Which one?' "The whole point about these people, the reason we don't catch 'em, is that we don't know who the fuck they are. They look like you and me. And they're good liars and good actors, to get away with what they get away with. So I just wanted to play the father as me, really, until you get to a certain… until you get into this other film, which is a nightmare." "What really fuelled my desire to make this film was the way it dealt with incest," adds Roth. "It's such an important subject and one that affects so many people and one that isn't dealt with honestly on film." It was a tough pitch, but after well-received screenings at Sundance and Berlin, both Winstone and Roth have reason to feel vindicated. "We know what sort of film we've got," says Winstone. "You stand by that, you live and die by that, don't you, really? But, at the end of the day, if people get it and you realise that it's a very responsible film with the subject matter, you've done something right. "It's nice to have everyone on your side. But, at the end of the day, fuck 'em." Owen Levy |
| Film Credits | |
| Production | Sarah Radclyffe Productions, Portobello Pictures, Mikado | Director | Tim Roth |
| Screenplay | Alexander Stuart |
| Editing | Trevor Waite |
| Photo | Seamus Mc Garvy |
| Decor | Michael Carlin |
| Music | Simon Boswell |
| Cast | Ray Winstone, Tilda Swinton, Lara Belmont, Freddie Cunliffe |
| Running time | 99 min |
| Sales | Film Four |
