CLOSE MY EYES

UK, 1991, 108 minutes, Colour.
Clive Owen, Saskia Reeves, Alan Rickman, Karl Johnson, Lesley Sharp.
Directed by Stephen Poliakoff.

Close my Eyes was written and directed by playwright Stephen Poliakoff. His television films include Hidden City, Caught on a Train, She's been Away. Poliakoff has a strong sense of British social background.

Close My Eyes is set between 1985 and 1990, the film echoing changes in social conditions, unemployment, the emergence of AIDS and other social issues. However, the focus of the film is on the taboo of incest. The film gives a human face to the love between brother and sister - the brother, played by Clive Owen, infatuated and obsessed with his sister (from whom he had been distant growing up) played by Saskia Reeves (December Bride, Antonia and Jane, The Bridge). The husband is played effectively by Alan Rickman. The film dramatises incest - and audiences, looking at the story and characters, are left to formulate their own opinions about the tradition of the taboo, moral attitudes, social and psychological attitudes - and their consequences. The film was released in the early 90s, a time for a number of prominent films on sexual obsessions - Louis Malle's Damage, Polanski's Bitter Moon, the Spanish Lovers as well as Hollywood's Basic Instinct and Body of Evidence.

1. Impact of the drama, love affair, incest?

2. The 1985 to 1990 time span, London and England? The social background, developments, jobs, the emergence of AIDS? The summer of 1990? The musical score?

3. The title, its application - and Sinclair and his covering over the affair?

4. The prologue: 1959 -1990, the glimpses of Richard and Natalie, their backgrounds, attitudes, attitudes towards each other? Richard and his successful work, the separation from Natalie in the past, their clashes? The meetings with Natalie, being late? The growing intensity, the kisses, the break between them? Natalie and her work, dissatisfactions, health? Richard and his lateness, disappearances? Ringing Richard, the discussions on the phone about sexuality? His wanting her to go to his wallet, the farewell at the station? Richard and his change of job? His relationship to Natalie, the past, the response to the kiss, sexual attraction?

5. The films dramatisation of incest, acknowledging the taboo, traditional values, moral perspectives, social acceptance or not, psychological implications? The lovers’ control over their feelings, making decisions, the love, the obsession, not wanting to hurt others - but hurtful consequences?

6. Natalie and her life, background, her parents and their death, clashes with Richard in the past, his absences? Her jobs, meeting people, interviews about new jobs? The Clash with Richard , the kiss, trying to keep her distance? Her marriage to Sinclair and the bond between the two? her living in comfortable surroundings? Meeting Richard, talking, denying the feelings, the impulsive kissing, the verbal account compared with what was actually happening? Her seductive manner? Kiss, sex? The aftermath? Decisions about meetings, the discussions at the picnic, her avoiding Richard? Setting him tasks? His phone call while she watched television with Sinclair? At Sinclair's parents apartment, the old fashioned style, the romanticism, the cleaner coming in and the deception? Her game with going to Sinclair's office, watching him eating in the restaurant - and wanting to be seen? the hotel and the affair, the lies to Sinclair? Sinclair and his suspicions? Richard and his growing intensity? The meeting at the hotel and the clash in the phone box? Richard's suicide attempt and her looking after him? Leaving London, the party, her decorum, the clash with Richard, chase, the fight on the road, the truck coming towards them? The truth about them not leaving England? The resolution of the affair - the cooling of the affair, her being with Sinclair? Her motives, psychological behaviour, the effect of the affair, her denial, her future?

7. Richard, personality, work, his skills, casual sex? His getting the new job, the interview and his directness? Working with Colin and Jessica? Development, buildings, changing and building new cities? His interview with the proprietors - and the later return and confrontation? With Colin, the news about his having AIDS, his reluctance to visit him, going to the hospital, the gift of the books? The confrontation after taking him out to the new development, his eating the sandwich - while the others were apprehensive about AIDS? His relationship with Natalie, her change in 1990, her kissing him, her denial, the effect, seductive - his being seduced? The plea for meetings, the picnic, the deceit? The sexual encounter and its effect on him - the maid coming into the apartment? Watching Sinclair eat in the restaurant and Natalie wanting to be caught? The hotel meeting? The months passing, Natalie giving him tasks, getting a girlfriend? Going out with Paula, memories of the past? Her interpretation of his behaviour? The phone call to Natalie? His inviting Jessica out and her interpretation of his behaviour? His moods, love, the boat ride with Sinclair and his wanting to avoid him, talking about the affair? the hotel and his anger, the suicide attempt, his illness? The final party, taking Jessica? The chase, the physical fight, their both walking back to the party? His future - and not denying that he would still be in love with Natalie?

8. Sinclair, personality, work, admiring Richard, meeting him? A great talker? Natalie and his relationship with her, her feeling small, his controlling and making decisions? Suspicions ?The washing machine, the phone call to the hotel? Asking Natalie and her avoiding the truth? Taking Richard on the boat and talking about the affair? The new job, moving to America - and its failure? The party, his bewilderment and bemusement? His trying to resolve the relationship - but not wanting to know the detail, closing his eyes? The three walking together in the autumn evening?

9. The company, Jessica, relationship with Colin, supporting him, critical of Richard, his asking her out, her telling him the truth about his attitudes? Colin, his work, AIDS, in hospital, his parents not visiting him, his angers? The outing, the confrontation with the company, the question of the sandwich and the phobias?

10. Paula, sexual relationship with Richard, meeting him again, out together, her insight into his attitudes and behaviour?

11. The social background, job losses, disillusionments, city developments and their failures? 12. The background of AIDS, acceptance of AIDS, fears?

13. The theme of incest, the dramatist putting a human face on the taboo, insight. into obsession, love - and the consequences?