UK

Synopsis

Ray, a charming, enigmatic, loveable guy who is a little unstable, is trying to re-adjust to the outside world after years of being institutionalised. He has just been released from a psychiatric hospital into the care of his over-worked and over-protective restaurateur brother, Pete. Pete runs his father's business, which is a café by day and a restaurant by night, with the help of his loyal employee Mandy.

Now out of hospital, Ray sees things in a new light. The unimaginative routine is gone, and he is excited but slightly daunted by the prospect of living in London with his brother. On his first day in London he walks round the market and along the canal. He is fascinated by the colours, shapes and noises he sees. He ends up buying a toy gun and 5 lighters for a pound in the market.

Things start off well. Ray meets Laura, a wild Scottish girl, as she is having a big fight with her boyfriend Dave in the street. Ray tries to stop the fight with his toy gun and gets head-butted by Dave. Feeling guilty, Laura invites Ray into her flat while she tends to his nosebleed.

That evening Ray returns to the restaurant and spends the evening teasing Pete about Mandy and begging him for a job. Pete is more concerned that Ray is taking his medication regularly.

With Laura an his mind, Ray returns to her flat and lurks in the shadows. He sees her throwing Dave's belongings, followed by the engagement ring, out of the window of her first floor flat, while Dave stands amidst the wreckage. When she has finished, she marches out the flat and walks away.

Intrigued, Ray follows Laura to a seedy West London pub, buys a drink and insists on sitting next to her. After a few minutes Laura calms down and they talk and seem to connect. She tells him she is pregnant. Laura is attracted to Ray — she has never met anyone quite like him before. They end up getting drunk together at Pete's flat.

Pete gives Ray some money so Ray takes Laura to the seaside. On the way to the coast on the train they spot a crop circle and investigate. Ray is mesmerised by it. They arrive at the seaside and steal a firework from a souvenir shop and light it in the evening on the beach. They stay overnight in a bed and breakfast and Ray finds himself making love to Laura - something he has not done for a long time. The next morning Laura spots Ray on the beach - he has created a huge spiral pattern, like the crop circle. It is a strange and enigmatic sight but slightly worrying for Laura, who, although very fond of Ray, realises he is a little different from other people.
On Ray's return, Pete hires him in the kitchen. They seem to be enjoying being back together. During Ray's absence Pete and Mandy's relationship has changed and they are now more than just good friends. Pete is still concerned about Ray, as he went away without his medication. Hoping that no one has noticed, Ray has stopped taking his pills. Frustrated by Pete's nagging, he sprinkles his pills onto the base of two pizzas, covers them with cheese and then watches as they are served to two customers. When Pete discovers what he has done, he is furious. On their way home he empties all the rest of Ray's medication out of the car window in a rage. They argue and Ray tells him he is moving out.

Ray moves in with Laura. Still not taking his medication, he starts to hear noises and see things other people do not. This becomes more obvious when he goes to the supermarket with Laura and is disturbed by the noises and shapes he sees.

With Ray gone, Pete is miserable and distraught and Mandy tries to console him.

Ray has another disturbing incident. He goes into the DSS office with Laura and is overwhelmed by the people and the prying clerk behind the desk. He is still hearing things, and flees, with paranoia setting in.
Laura is worried about Ray and suggests he gets in touch with Pete again. Walking the streets, Ray stops by a phone box and calls Pete. Relieved to hear from him, Pete invites them both to Sunday lunch.

Laura wakes the next day and Ray is gone again. She looks out of the window and sees him, naked, busily arranging bulging rubbish bags in a spiral in the

middle of the street, watched by a small crowd. Laura rushes over to him and leads him back to the flat. When his depression kicks in, Ray believes he is invisible.

At the Sunday lunch, Pete, Mandy, Ray and Laura sit round the table in Pete's flat. Ray has been drinking and starts being very loud. Ray upsets Mandy and then Laura and gets into an argument with Pete. The lunch is a disaster. Laura leaves in tears, followed by Ray.

Ray wanders around the streets. Confused, he hears eerie, metallic clanking noises, and low, indistinct voices. Ray hardly dares breathe, frightened by what is happening to him.

Returning to Laura's flat, Ray finds Dave there. Dave has bought a plane ticket for Laura to return to Scotland with him. Thinking Laura is going to leave him, Ray confesses his love for her and swings at Dave, missing him. Dave shrugs him off, snatches the ticket and storms off, but not before Ray smashes a table over his head and marches out of the fiat. Laura calls an ambulance and Pete arrives as Dave is being carried out on a stretcher.

Worried out of their wits for Ray, Pete and Laura spend the evening driving round the streets looking for him. Ray wanders aimlessly on the Westway, oblivious to the traffic hoots. After a few hours Pete realises where he might be, and drives to his cafe.

Pete and Laura see a light on in the kitchen. Pete goes in, leaving Laura in the car. Entering, he discovers Ray pouring petrol all over the restaurant. Ray rambles on about the past - he is confused and thinks he killed his mother and drove his father to drink. Pete tries to reassure him that this did not happen and that things will be all right. Ray tells Pete that he hears things, things move and he thinks he makes things happen. Pete has had enough and tells him to stop. Ray tries his lighter but it fails. He thinks it is a sign but wants to try one more time. This time it works.

Pete takes a few hopeless steps towards Ray and tries to grab the lighter, but to no avail. Ray picks up the petrol can and pours it over his head and flicks the lighter but it will not work. They wrestle again but Ray breaks free and tries his other lighter. He holds it in front of his face. He asks Pete to tell him he is there and not invisible. Slowly Pete walks towards him and Ray relents and gives up the lighter. They hug and Pete tells him everything will be all right.

A few months later: Ray has moved out of Laura's flat and is now living in a hostel where he can be cared for. Laura goes to visit him. She has come to say goodbye as she is moving back to Scotland to have the baby.

Pete now visits Ray regularly and continues his cookery lessons. Although Ray is subdued by the medication and missing Laura, the brothers have bonded again, and Ray seems to be in good shape.

Director's Biography

Simon Cellan Jones started his career in the mail room at Twentieth Century Fox in London before working as a runner an films such as 1984. Taking time out as a news photographer in Beirut, he returned to join the BBC as an assistant director. During this time he produced and directed the half hour short looking After Number One', financed entirely on credit cards and bank loans, which he then sold to the BBC.

Cellan Jones' recent work includes: one of three films in the first series of CRACKER, which won a BAFTA nomination and the RTS Award for best series; the BAFTA nominated THE RIFF RAFF ELEMENT, and the highly-acclaimed OR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH which won the 1997 BAFTA for best serial and the RTS Award.
Prior to shooting SOME VOICES he directed two BBC films: ION YOUR DREAMS starring Thandie Newton and STORM DAMAGE starring Adrian Lester, which was broadcast in early 2000. SOME VOICES is Simon's debut feature film.

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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Simon Cellan Jones

Written by: Joe Penhall

Produced by: Graham Broadbent, Damian Jones

Cinematography: David Odd

Editing: Elen Pierce Lewis

Production Design: Zoe MacLeod

Costume Design: James Keast

Original Score: Adrian Johnston

Cast: Peter McDonald (Dave), Daniel Craig (Ray), David Morrissey (Pete), Kelly Macdonald (Laura), Julie Graham (Mandy)

Nominations and Awards

  • European Discovery of the Year - Fassbinder Award  2000