TOO CLOSE

UK, 2021, 3X 45 minute, Colour.

Emily Watson, Denise Gough, Thalissa Teiseira, Karl Johnson, Jamie Sives, Risteard Cooper.

Directed by Susan Tully.

Too Close is a three-part BBC miniseries. It is basically an interaction between two women and the consequences for each of them.

Emily Watson plays Emma, a psychiatrist, middle-aged, having experienced the accidental death of a difficult child, tentative in her marriage, some suspicions about her husband. She is often depressed, drinks.

Denise Gough is Connie, a mother of two who is seen at the beginning of the film driving, two children in the back of the car, and plunging into a river. She and the children are rescued. However, she is in police care and because of her mental condition is required to have sessions with the psychiatrist.

At first, Connie is sardonic, asking Emma are very personal questions which have an effect on Emma in her own life. Connie responds to questions, and the past is seen in dramatised flashbacks. And, it is the opportunity to see Connie as her real self rather than the injured and battered woman in police custody.

One of the key elements that Emma works on is medication and its effect – and, especially, withdrawing from medication without proper supervision and the possibly psychotic consequences.

Connie is able to be healed and reunited with her children. Emma also has some healing because of her championing Connie’s cause, even in court – and discovering that her suspicions about her husband were completely misplaced.

A small miniseries compared with other spectacles but an important portrait of women’s interactions and issues of mental health and medication.

1. The dramatic impact of a three-part series?
2. The setting, the English city, suburbs, homes, the roads, bridges, the river? Prison, psychiatrists, offices? Playgrounds? Family sequences? The musical score?
3. The title, as applied to Emma? Connie?
4. A film of interaction between two women? The establishing of Emma’s character, gradual revelations, her age, her drinking, moments of depression, her professional skills? Tense relationship with her husband, his loving response? The later revelation of her suspicions about an affair, and his explanation of what it happened, her relief, her misjudging him? The gradual revelation about their daughter, the difficult birth, sleeping from the one-hour, growing up, the tantrums, the tantrum in the stroller, Emma’s reaction, on the phone, the stroller being hit by the truck? Her grief and the consequences? Her husband unable to mention her name?
5. Establishing the character of Connie, in the car, the children in the back, the roadworks, backing, her driving into the river? The reputation repetition of this sequence throughout the film? Her surviving, her injuries, battered look? In custody? Required to have the sessions with Emma? Her sardonic remarks, the touch of cynicism? The criticisms of Emma, challenging personal questions? Gradually revealing her story, the flashbacks, seeing Connie as her real self, her relationship with her husband, the friendship with Ness, her friend in relationships, daughter? The friendship between the children? Connie at home, her son? Involved in social activities? Exuberant? The effect on the sessions, telling her story, wanting to continue with Emma?
6. The effect of her work on Emma, taking it home, drinking, her husband and the visitors, her disgust at their treating Connie simply as a case, curiosity? Her emotional reactions, denunciations? The contrast with her socialising, the energetic dancing?
7. Connie, the fire, everybody out, her making her escape, climbing the tree, Emma called, persuading her to come down? Continuing their work?
8. Emma, the issue of medication, going to the centre of the school, the interrogation of the woman in charge?
9. The focus on the issue of medication, controlled, supervised, ways of coming out of medication, Connie treated wrongly, psychic states, protecting the children? And the revelation of her husband, seemingly good Catholic, Emma’s visit, taking him to the hospital see his daughter? The husband and his having an affair with Ness? The consequences for Connie, the repetition of the accident?
10. The hearing, Emma giving testimony? Connie, coming back to good health, the visit to her daughter, the reconciliation with her son?
11. The future life for Connie? Emma and the effect of the case, the bond with Connie, and bonding again with her husband?