Synopsis
You start by thinking it's an art house style film of a poem recital, we think he is alone in the room.
Shot romantically poetically tragic, painterly lighting, almost like in a painters work shop. Each shot framed and lite like a painting, a still in time. Cuts to snap out of reality with the reveal of a therapist in the room. It is actually one of Reggie's first therapy sessions or is he thoroughly in the process of therapy we never find out for sure but every session he always dresses to impress and treats the sessions like work and with respect because of his army roots. He begins to read out a poem written around the time of the world wars, Strange Meeting by Wilfred Owen, 1918. You see him trying to understand the meaning of the poem and the true realities of everything he has experienced as a solider and what it means to him going forward after therapy. He never finishes the poem, the therapist interrupts and we realise it's a therapy session, we are left wondering what Reggie is feeling to the therapists question, 'and how does that make you feel?...'.
If this can act as a form of normalising therapy to a group of society that wouldn't normally consider accessing it and also a reflection of lives reality. And making all others feel less alone in the world, we are united in our experiences more then we know.
We see life in Reggie's face and expression, good or bad but there to see, everything purposefully accidentally placed in frame, nothing out of place to distract from Reggie's character and existence. Set in current modern day England.
CHARACTERS
REGGIE
Reggie is a retired ex soldier character although he never mentions it, it is seen in the way he holds himself, even turning up to therapy in a pristine ironed suit. He is open to feeling emotion, he is exploring his life and his thoughts through the recital of this poem.
Aged 40 to 60, single white English man, middle class to working class not posh, everyday man. He is a
representation of society, our initial thought may be of intimidation but Reggie has just existed until
one day he decided to go to therapy and work on himself the way he felt comfortable, he is finally confronted with everything he has gone through in one of his first therapy sessions.
THERAPIST
No named female therapist, aged between 30 to 50, we almost never really see her, even in the reveal. She is casually dressed off the corner of frame. Dark colours, jeans etc, it is just another day for her but she takes her job incredibly seriously. She is gentle soft spoken, calm and stoic character.
She has one line but alot is shown in that moment, a question of genuine care but something she
says everyday as part of her job. She cares about Reggie and listens intently since she knows it's
rare to work with someone like Reggie, maintain eye contact/ always front and attentively facing
Reggie.
She has finally helped him wake out of his dream.