In an attempt to escape the rigmarole of daily life in the modern world, four good-looking London twentysomethings ditch their conventional life in the city in favour of a private commune in the countryside, in Joanna Coates feature film debut Hide and Seek.
The four characters are Max (Josh O’Connor), Charlotte (Hannah Arterton, sister of Gemma), Leah (Rea Mole) and Jack (Daniel Metz). Together they move in to a relatively remote cabin, forming a polyamorous commune free of any real connection to the outside world. Instead they form their own mini-society with everyone given a turn at performing certain household tasks, sharing the marital bedroom or performing a show for the others in the evening.
Coates’ film is sensual and atmospheric with soft, dreamy cinematography that lends the film a fittingly intimate feel considering the physical and emotional relationship of the four characters. The film is also very frank and graphic when it comes to sex which might be Coates attempt at showing all facets of the group dynamic but mostly it just feels gratuitous and needlessly shocking, not furthering the plot or developing character in any way.
In fact, much of Coates’ film feels superficial and self-conscious, like it’s trying really hard to make a point about society or sexuality or relationships or fulfilment or freedom or…whatever, but never really explores any of the themes it throws out there to a satisfying degree.
It doesn’t help that the characters are largely blank slates. With no real background on them or any idea of their motivations for being there, the only real insight we get into them is through the grating and contrived acts they put on for each other, like attention seeking children looking for approval. The only character of any real interest is Arterton’s Charlotte who at one point seems to be having doubts about what they’re doing and the arrival of her ex-boyfriend Simon threatens to shake things up.
Simon is confused by what they are doing and though he tries to join in, he just doesn’t get it and certainly doesn’t like it. Frustratingly, his appearance fails to amount to all that much despite giving the film a much-needed shot of dramatic tension, something it sorely lacks. The group dynamic is mildly interesting, particularly as a blossoming relationship seems to be coming between the foursome but once again any tension is maddeningly stifled.
Hide and Seek has an intriguing set-up and an arresting aesthetic but doesn’t use either to any great effect, resulting in an aimless film that never gets any better than mildly diverting.
EIFF 2014 — count: 24
Festivals — count: 132
