Wild Honey Pie is writer/director Jamie Adams’ remarkable creation. Shot in just 6 days off a scriptment with wholly improvised dialogue, the film explores how complicated modern long-term relationships can be.
Set in a small town in Wales, the film focuses on thirty-something couple Oliver (Richard Elis) and Gillian (Jemima Kirke), who need a shot in the arm to get them going again.
While Oliver DJs once a week for next to no pay, Gillian is a playwright with hopes of producing her next play at a major local theature, so meets with manager Gerry (Alice Lowe) to discuss arrangements. With conversations flowing well, they take their meeting to the bar, then Gerry’s flat, then she stays the night. And while all of this has been going on, Oliver bumps into an old flame and they end up kissing too, sending the couple into a downward spiral that really tests if their love for each other will hold true.
With the story only outlined in the scriptment, and no actual dialogue written until the actors stood on set, that we even have a cohesive picture is some achievement, but there’s a lot to like here too. Though the characters are generally wafer thin, their chemistry and interactions feel honest and genuine. There are real laughs at times, and the narrative does come back around for a fulfilling conclusion, even if the third act is a little contrived.
The real winner here though is Brett Goldstein. Turning up with more than half the film gone to throw another spanner in the works, and despite being Oliver’s best friend, Brett’s charac ter Matt declare’s his love, nee lust, for Gillian too. Goldstein steals the film, though though he’s so good, by the end you’ll wish it was 90 minutes just focused on him.