Lawless Heart' is a glimpse of reality

"Go for it!" This is the phrase in the back of each character's mind throughout the film Lawless Heart as well as the mantra of restaurant owner Stuart, the man whose funeral is the focal point for the film, but who never actually appears. The film explores the impact of this man's death upon three men in a small seaside community in England and how their reflections on his life become redirected towards their own.

The film is beautifully written and features a unique storytelling format. It is divided into three parts, one for each of the three men, and tells their respective stories of the few days following the funeral. The stories are all intertwined and overlap, allowing the audience to see the different paths which these characters took that ultimately ended up placing them in the same scene.

First we meet Dan (Bill Nighy), a very dour elderly farmer whose wife, Judy (Ellie Haddington) was Stuart's sister. He stands back from the funeral melee to share a drink with a mysterious French woman name Corinne (Clementine Celarie) who's seize- the-day attitude is infectious. Her vitality and sexiness, combined with the morbid funeral atmosphere, shroud Dan with regret for a lifetime of missed opportunities. He starts to wonder if maybe Corinne is his last chance to take a chance in life, but in the end he is conquered by his own indecision.

Next we encounter Nick (Tom Hollander) who was Stuart's lover and partner, now the sole proprietor of the restaurant. Nick is devastated by the loss of Stuart, which is perhaps why he is ruled throughout the film by compassion and selflessness. After a party, which he never wanted thrown, in his house, he discovers a girl passed out in his bed, deserted by her boyfriend.

She turns out to be Charlie (Sukie Smith), who wakes up and demands a cup of tea and his friendship. He is taken by her simple innocence and her genuine desire to cheer him up. Soon, Nick is struggling with his feelings towards Charlie, which seem to be a betrayal of not only Stuart but his own sexuality.

Finally there is Tim (Douglass Henshall), a restless young man who was once Stuart's best friend. Tim has returned from eight years of wandering the globe to discover that not only was his friend gay, but now he is dead. Tim takes advantage of Nick and moves in with him while he is at home, and he is the one responsible for the aforementioned party. However, after years of struggling to find want he wants and avoiding responsibility, Tim realizes he is finally ready to face his future after meeting Leah (Josephine Butler).

The film's unique storytelling style shows us how each character views the same events in a different ways and reminds us that our view of life is not universally shared. A broken cup of sugar is insignificant to one character but tragic to another. Everyone has a different perspective on life, but our own unique view is all we have to base our choices on.

In the end, choice is really what this film is about, however because we only have one perspective on life, we can never be sure about any of the choices we make. Dan feels that he has missed out on taking romantic chances in his life and wonders whether Corinne is his last opportunity. Stuart would say to "go for it," but that would mean betraying his wife and to a certain extent, his family.

Nick feels that if he "goes for it" with Charlie he will be betraying Stuart. However, the reality is that Stuart is dead, and sooner or later Nick will have to get on with his life. While this film is not about sexuality, Nick's seemingly first relationship with a woman does bring issues surrounding the sexuality to the forefront.

Then there is Tim, who has lived the "go for it" lifestyle and found it has brought him nothing. For Tim, "go for it" has a different meaning. Rather than letting go and trying to grab on to something new, he wants hold on to something he has and settle down. He realizes that every time he had gone for it in his life, he had also left something behind.

Regret hangs heavy in Lawless Hearts and douses each character with a quiet sadness filled with missed opportunities. Our life is defined by the choices we make and the people we make them for. In the words of Dan, "at the end of the day, it's all a question of courage." This film makes you realize that it is just as courageous to take a chance as to hold on to what you have.