'Hope Gap' finally opens in the UK

‘Hope Gap’ is released tomorrow by the Curzon chain, and will be in 39 cinemas. In these strange times the cinemas will be operating with social distancing, and I guess many people will be afraid to go out, but at least my film is becoming available. An early review in the Financial Times tickles me:

‘Tea and toast co-star. You guess right. Something dreadful is in wait… That sound of things at boiling point is not the kettle… Your sympathies are deftly toyed with; Nighy jitters and surprises; O’Connor has the sad gravity of the eternal referee. Bening, meanwhile, is compelling…’

More reviews to come, and many will be less kind; but I’m braced for that now. It’s hard when you make a work that’s so personal to find some people actively disliking it, but on the other hand, no one asked me to make it, and I have only myself to blame for putting it out there. The truth is nothing and no one is liked by everyone, but we’re usually protected from knowing this. Imagine if every now and again our friends posted reviews of us…