Dirty Filthy Love (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Adrian Shergold

Writers:

Jeff Pope (writer)
Ian Puleston-Davies (writer)

Release Date:

26 September 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

An obsessive compulsive comedy

Plot:

A man's life falls apart as a result of his affliction with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Tourette's Syndrome in this touching and funny tale. |

Plot Keywords:

Tourette's Syndrome | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Awards:

1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Michael Sheen	...	Mark Furness
Adrian Bower	...	Nathan
Claudie Blakley	...	Kathy
Anastasia Griffith	...	Stevie
Katie McGuinness	...	Alison
Anton Lesser	...	Charles
Ebe Sievwright	...	Tom
Elliot Cowan	...	Gareth
Rupert Young	...	Josh
Shirley Henderson	...	Charlotte
John O'Mahony	...	Dr. Dunphy
Daniel Kruyer	...	Cabbie
Stewart Wright	...	Rhodri
Bhasker Patel	...	Hasim
Kika Markham	...	Geraldine
Mercedes Grower	...	Gemma
Tim Stern	...	Kenneth
Malcolm Rogers	...	Farmer
Mary Sheen	...	Farmer's Wife
Michael Elwyn	...	Richard
John Salthouse	...	Bob
Heather Tobias	...	Judith
Hilary Sesta	...	Gran
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Steve Oram	...	Zookeeper (uncredited)
Tracy Redington	...	Shop Assistant (uncredited)

Directed by
Adrian Shergold

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jeff Pope		writer
Ian Puleston-Davies		writer

Produced by
Sue Calverley	....	line producer
Andy Harries	....	executive producer
Christine Langan	....	producer
Jeff Pope	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Martin Phipps

Cinematography by
David Odd

Film Editing by
Tania Reddin

Casting by
Kate Rhodes James

Production Design by
David Roger

Art Direction by
Sandy Garfield

Costume Design by
Mary-Jane Reyner

Makeup Department
Karen Hartley	....	hair designer
Karen Hartley	....	makeup designer
Maureen McGill	....	makeup artist
Debbi Salmon	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Said Ezrouki	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Baker	....	second assistant director
Joanna Crow	....	first assistant director
Andrew Mannion	....	third assistant director (as Andy Mannion)

Art Department
Gari Bacon	....	stand-by prophand
Vince Ball	....	stand-by construction
Tony Bandy	....	dressing prophand
Tim Bonstow	....	production buyer
Dean Humphrey	....	dressing prophand
Jo Kornstein	....	stand-by art director
Ron Sutcliffe	....	stand-by prophand
Ray Wilson	....	stand-by rigger
Neil Wood	....	property master

Sound Department
Philip Barnes	....	adr editor
Philip Barnes	....	dialogue editor
Nick Cox	....	dubbing editor
Graham Day	....	sound trainee
Nigel Edwards	....	dubbing mixer
David McMillan	....	sound maintenance
Reg Mills	....	sound recordist
Dave Sloss	....	foley recordist
Mark Verner	....	foley editor

Stunts
Gareth Milne	....	stunt coordinator
Peter Pedrero	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Steff Marc Angelo	....	electrician
Tash Gamper	....	camera trainee (as Natasha Gamper)
Andrew Hamilton	....	gaffer
Sam Kite	....	best boy
Andy Munday	....	electrician (as Andy Mundy)
Barney Piercy	....	first assistant camera
Chris Samworth	....	clapper loader
Tony Sankey	....	grip

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting
Andy Morgan	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Josie Martin	....	wardrobe assistant
Pat Williamson	....	wardrobe assistant
Zoe Williamson	....	costume trainee
Nicole Young	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Steven Forrester	....	first assistant editor
Kevin Horsewood	....	colorist
Andrew Mitchell	....	on-line editor
Mark Swailes	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Barry Goodwin	....	unit driver
Rob MacKnight	....	driver: unit minibus
Llewellyn Thomas	....	driver: camera car

Other crew
David Blank	....	assistant accountant
Shane Chapman	....	picture publicist
Natalie Cheary	....	unit publicist
Gary Connelly	....	production executive
Zoë Edwards	....	assistant production coordinator
Barry Fletcher	....	advisor: architecture
Barry Fletcher	....	architect models
Harold Garner	....	advisor: architecture
Harold Garner	....	architect models
Emily Graham	....	floor runner
Mo Johnstone	....	script supervisor
Marigo Kehoe	....	head of production
Jamie Lengyel	....	location manager
Sarah Lindfield	....	production runner
Nick Marshall	....	assistant location manager
Adrian O'Brien	....	production accountant
Heather Rimmington	....	unit nurse
Christian Spurrier	....	advisor: architecture
Christian Spurrier	....	architect models
Sarah Turner	....	researcher
Grace Yee	....	production coordinator

Production Companies

• Granada Television

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV) (2004) (UK) (TV)
• Hart Sharp Video

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment supplied by
• EPR Architects Ltd.  architect models and advice
• Future Systems  architect models and advice
• JAM Location Services  location assistants
• Mint Post  foley studio
• On Set Location Services  facilities vehicles
• Wood Hall Catering  location caterer (as Woodhall Catering)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content, brief nudity and language.

Runtime:

UK:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Granada Television

Trivia:

One of the writers of this play, Ian Puleston-Davies, drew on his own experiences as a sufferer of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

A Small but Powerful Film about Coping with Challenges

Beginning with a smart script by Jeff Pope and Ian Puleston-Davies (the latter a fine actor who happens to be afflicted with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and under the inordinately delicate direction of Adrian Shergold, DIRTY FILTHY LOVE is one of the more sensitive examinations of two challenges that affect the lives of many people throughout the world: Tourette's Syndrome (complete with tics and uncontrollable inappropriate outbursts of foul language, noises, shouts), and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (lives complicated by the need for order imposed by the patient's mind as a series of repeated behaviors that protect the person from the terror of living in a chaotic world). Wrongly titled (a title that probably prevents many people from seeing this little miracle of a film) and incorrectly billed as a comedy (which is most certainly not), DIRTY FILTH LOVE is one of those films that slipped by us all without a theatrical release but now is thankfully available on DVD. It deserves full attention.

Mark Furness (played with superlative skill by Michael Sheen) is an architect on leave due to his progressive illnesses (see above) and who is first seen in the throes of beginning a trial separation from his beloved wife Stevie (Anastasia Griffith) who can no longer live under the same roof with Mark's 'inexplicable' behavior patterns. Left alone with the anxiety over his surfacing deterioration from his physical challenges, Mark finds solace with his close friends who also tire of his behavior and insist he seek medical help. In the waiting room of a deaf-eared doctor Mark 'meets' Charlotte (the astonishingly fine character actor Shirley Henderson) and Charlotte, who happens to suffer from both Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as well as trichotillomania (uncontrolled pulling out hair strands to the point of baldness), senses a man who needs help. Charlotte tells Mark of a group therapy session for people with similar problems and Mark, out of desperation, joins the group (a fascinating group of actors imbuing their disease states without the least sign of parody).

It is obvious rather early on that Charlotte is attracted to Mark, but Mark's life is one directed toward making himself acceptable to Stevie. With a powerful confrontation at a very social party Mark realizes he suffers from a disease state he has had since birth and the only one who really cares about his dilemma and understands his turmoil is Charlotte: a strange love affair is finally recognized.

Scripts such as this are all too rare and when brought to the screen with the exceptional acting and direction rendered by this crew they become films that should be required viewing. In every way these are brilliant performances by Michael Sheen and by Shirley Henderson, yet because the film never received a theatrical release in this country (probably due to the factors mentioned above) it will be ignored by the Oscars. But awards are only momentary returns for art pieces of this caliber and this one is destined for a long shelf life. Highly recommended. Grady Harp