HAVING YOU
UK, 2013, 92 minutes, Colour.
Anna Friel, Andrew Buchan, Romola Garai, Phil Davis, Isaac Andrews, Stephen Cree, Harry Hadden- Paton, Hattie Morahan.
Directed by Sam Hoare.
Having You Seems a rather slight title for the interesting and emotional drama that unfolds.
We are introduced to Anna, Anna Friel, a rather distraught mother, a psychic, making phone calls, moving house, with a young son, Phoenix, Isaac Andrews. Then we are introduced to a seemingly happy couple, together nine years, Jack, Andrew Buchan, and Camilla, Romola Garai (who is married to the film’s director, Sam Hoare). All seems well with them, not having contemplated marriage but on a visit to Camilla’s pregnant friend and jibes from her husband, Jack gets the idea of proposing – and a weeping Camilla in the restaurant accepts.
The drama intensifies when Anna visits Jack with her young son, talking of paternity, offering him kits for paternity tests, which he takes and discovers that the claim is true, a one night stand in the past when he was trying to overcome his alcoholism and Camilla had suffered a miscarriage. It seems that Camilla cannot conceive children but, in fact does, and is advised not to undergo any stress so Jack does not tell her the truth. In the meantime, he pays visits to Anna and the boy, gradually making friends with him.
When the boy is injured in the playground and Jack takes him to the hospital where Camilla works, the truth emerges and Camilla ousts Jack who tries to explain and apologise. He moves out, and continues his contact with the boy and with Anna. But, Anna has a secret, she is terminally ill, had wanted to introduce Jack to his son – and he promises to take care of him.
Phil Davis gives a strong performance as Jack’s demanding father.
While the screenplay does not fully bring the film to a tearfully happy ending, it suggests what is going to happen – positively.
A small film, quite affecting in its way.
1. A drama about relationships, commitment, children, illness and death? An emotional film?
2. The British settings, towns, homes, workplaces, hospitals, playgrounds, parks? The musical score?
3. The title – and its relevance for each of the characters and relationships?
4. The introduction to Anna, as a psychic, moving, her son, Phoenix, her love and care for him? On the phone? Her later entry into the story, her coming to see Jack, wary, her news, about her son, his paternity, their one night stand, her leaving him with the DNA paternity tests?
5. Jack and Camilla, together for nine years, living together, comfortably together, loving each other? the past? Jack and his being an alcoholic, reforming, seven years without a drink? The role of Camilla? The sadness of her miscarriage? Her sessions with the doctors, the tests, her “inhospitable womb”? Her work at the hospital?
6. Jack, seeing himself as a failure, the back story, his mother and her abandoning him and his father, his father bringing him up, the stern father, playing chess, feeling he disappointed his father, yet moving with Camilla to be near him and the father never visiting them? His work, his partnership with Paul, slot machines, videogames, repairs, sales and rent? His prospects, the visit with Barry and Lucy, Lucy’s pregnancy, discussions about marriage, the restaurant and his proposal, Camilla weeping, accepting?
7. Jack, the news, not telling Camilla, Camilla becoming pregnant, the warning for her not to have stress? His continued devotion to her? His work, eventually telling Paul? The visits with Anna and Phoenix, at home, tentative talking with the boy, playing with him, at the park, gradual trust? Anna and her observing?
8. Jack ignoring Anna’s phone calls, her visit to the house, seeing that Camilla was pregnant? Her challenge to Jack?
9. Jack, his indecision, discussions with Paul, the better prospects the job, getting an international contract, the money? The issue of Paul as best man – and Jack thinking him reckless? The visit to Barry and Lucy, Barry letting Jack know that he had seen the group at the aquarium? Barry, love for Lucy, but his sleazy attitude towards relationships and indiscretions, men being men? Jack disliking him? And yet Lucy promoting him for his expertise in preparing the wedding?
10. Jack, the visit to his father, the walk in the park? His father later visiting him, his harsh taunts, the bitterness towards his wife and her leaving, his self-sacrifice in daily work, providing for his son? Not answering about Jack being a disappointment? His bringing the bottle of alcohol, testing Jack, taunting him? The fact that he was an alcoholic, that he could never change? Jack, the temptation, going to Paul and Paul’s support, Jack inviting him to be best man?
11. The playground, the accident, taking Phoenix to the hospital, Camilla seeing the situation, being hurt, looking after the boy? Not wanting to discuss with Jack, ordering him to leave the house? His later return, Barry’s presence, her refusal?
12. Moving out, the flat? The decision to get another house, to provide for Phoenix? Phoenix visiting the house, the two and their time together, bonding? Jack’s explanation of his situation and the one night stand?
13. Anna’s collapse, the hospital, Camilla getting in touch with Jack, the terminal illness and her not telling people? Her wanting Jack to take her son, care for him? her wanting Phoenix to remember her as she was rather than as in the hospital and dying? The final visits, her writing the letter and her bequeathing her ideals and hopes to Phoenix?
14. Jack and Phoenix, acknowledging that he was the father, Phoenix accepting this?
15. The glimpse of Camilla and Jack together – and audience hopes for the future, together, marriage, adopting Phoenix, and Camilla giving birth to another child?
