NIGHTINGALE

US, 2014, 83 minutes, Colour.
David Oyelowo.
Directed by Elliot Lester.

Nightingale is an HBO special, an 83 minute drama, a monologue by its star, David Oyelowo, British, making a success of his career in the United States, especially with his portrayal of Martin Luther King in Selma. For his performance in Nightingale, he was nominated for both Golden Globe and Emmy.

The screenplay is by Frederick Mensch.

While there is only one character in the film, the writing and the photography have the protagonist, Peter Snowden, continually on the move within his home, sometimes moving outside, with his continually talking to himself, to a video camera, to people calling on the phone. While this requires some concentration, the performance and the editing and pace keep most audiences interested.

Peter Snowden, wearing his name tag at home, worked at a supermarket. We see him in his house, preparing a meal and eating it. There is mention of his mother – and we notice a splash of blood which he cleans from his glasses, listening to him as he begins to rant, and thinking that he has killed his mother. This is confirmed as he puts a towel against the door of her room, eventually enters, is overcome by the smell, wraps her in a blanket, puts her in the boot of his car and takes her away and dumps her. With phone calls from his sister and from his mother’s friends, he continues to pretend that she is either out playing bridge or is feeling unwell and cannot be disturbed. In his talk about his mother, he continually praises her, contrasting with her loss of love for his sister who has married and lives away. He makes the point that he is the good son, staying at home, and looking after his mother. And this is given religious value by his praying, quoting the Scriptures, talking about Jesus.

The other thing that is quickly introduced is his friendship with Edward, his buddy from military days, inseparable 18 years earlier but, after leaving the army, growing away from each other. It is clear that Peter is infatuated with Edward, phoning him, pleading, leaving messages, angry with Edward’s wife Gloria whom he accuses of deliberately blocking the calls. He plans to invite Edward to a meal in several days time, is giving considerable thought to the menu, the choices, and preparing the table, preparing himself, taking off his beard, trimming himself, the elaborate testing of what clothes to wear, and then his waiting and waiting for Edward to arrive, finally calling, making many excuses for his not being present.

There is a lot of emotional talk to the audience and to the video cameras about Edward, what a wonderful person he was, the only person for Peter, and is finally offering to drive away with Edward into their future.

The film uses a lot of variety in Peter and his change in appearance, eventually shaving his head. He has meals, showers, is in his underwear, is in different clothes, eventually tidying up his mother’s room, beginning renovations and painting.

He reads a letter from his mother’s friend, Mrs Carruthers, and is angry at her comments about him. She also phones and he puts her off, suggesting that she write. There is another phone caller concerned about his mother with Peter angry at him.

He has plans for sending his mother on a trip, persuading his sister to send the money to him, so he can buy the ticket and be a surprise for his mother.

Eventually, after trying to buy things online, including a coffeemaker, and a vanity mirror, he is told that his finances are running out and he is angry with the online clerk.

He becomes more and more aware of what has happened, tells that or his sister that she will read about him in the paper, is angry with an intruder at the door, but finally gets a gun, knows that the police are outside the house and that he will defend himself.

The film is a strong portrait of a man unravelling – and a reminder that so many people living alone, with various traumas, with issues with their parents, sexual orientation, can finish up in siege situations.

His final message to those listening to his videos is that they should embrace the people that they love, instantly, and makes it very clear to them that this is the most important thing.