- Year: 1991
- Genre: drama, romance
- Director: Stephen Poliakoff
- Акторський склад: Clive Owen, Saskia Reeves, Alan Rickman, Lesley Sharp, Geraldine Somerville
- Plot: An estranged brother and sister begin an intense sexual relationship, behind the curtain of their otherwise normal working-class lives.
Plot
In 1985, town planning student Richard Gillespie (Clive Owen) visits his older sister Natalie (Saskia Reeves), with whom he is not very close since they grew up separately. Natalie has recently split with her boyfriend and is unhappy with her job. She is depressed, and Richard’s attempts to lighten the mood are ended when Natalie pulls him into a passionate embrace, kissing him on the lips. She immediately apologises, making the excuse that she just wanted someone to hug. Richard seems stunned, but not disturbed.
Six years pass, during which Richard achieves success while Natalie’s career stagnates; she marries a powerful and rich stock analyst named Sinclair Bryant (Alan Rickman). When Richard visits Natalie, he is introduced to Sinclair and the two get along well. Shortly after Richard’s visit to her home, Natalie goes to Richard’s apartment. They attempt to resist their attraction to one another, but eventually they succumb to their desires and have sex. They meet a few more times and eventually Sinclair begins to suspect that Natalie is having an affair. He questions Richard, believing Richard knows who Natalie’s lover is.
Some time later, after learning that Sinclair and Natalie plan to move to America, Richard has an emotional breakdown. He attempts to commit suicide with sleeping pills, but Natalie arrives unexpectedly at his apartment. She invites him to the going-away party, on the condition that he not attempt to renew their affair. He attends with his colleague Jessica, but abandons her to search for Natalie. On finding her, the two have a fight, then return to the gathering dishevelled. Sinclair appears, and staying calm, makes it clear that he knows what has happened.
