It’s over 20 years since William Nicholson ventured behind the camera to direct a film. Since then, he’s concentrated on writing, his first love, one that’s garnered him two Oscar nominations (Shadowlands and Gladiator). But, for his latest film, Hope Gap, he’s back in the director’s chair as well as writing the screenplay, bringing a personal story to the big screen.
Almost a three-hander, the film concentrates on Grace (Annette Bening) and Edward (Bill Nighy) who, after a marriage lasting nearly 30 years, have to face the fact that they’re not compatible – and probably never have been. Caught in the crossfire, as he’s been all his life, is their grown up son Jamie (Josh O’Connor) who finds his loyalties agonisingly stretched.
The story was originally dramatized in Nicholson’s play, The Retreat From Moscow, and in this exclusive interview, he talks about the changes he needed to make to bring it to the big screen, as well as his reasons for choosing Annette Bening for the pivotal role of Grace, the mother. And, although it’s essentially a sad story, he also discusses the importance of humour in the film.
Hope Gap is released in cinemas and on Curzon Home Cinema on Friday, 28 August.
