118. Bleeding Love; movie review

 

BLEEDING LOVE

Cert 15

102 mins

BBFC advice: Contains drug misuse, sexual threat, very strong language

Just under 30 years ago, Ewan McGregor came to the public's attention as the drug-addicted Renton in Danny Boyle's magnificent Trainspotting.

In the same year as its release, his first wife, Eve Mavrakis, gave birth to a daughter, Clara.

Both father and daughter went on to have individual problems with addiction and have had a relationship which has sometimes been 'tricky'.

Consequently, I had heightened anticipation of their collaboration in a movie Clara co-wrote.

This was heightened when I learned Ewan was playing a recovering addict who was trying to p his daughter after she had suffered a near-fatal overdose.

Emma Westenberg's film alights upon them during an uncomfortable road trip down a near-deserted road to Santa Fe.

In one of the early scenes, she pretends she needs a toilet break and tries to run away.

It isn't clear whether this is because she wants to escape her dad or she is still high, but after catching her, he needs to plug a parental hole while trying to push her towards physical recovery.

En route to their destination, they encounter a weird set of characters who prompt them to address issues from their respective pasts.

However, it becomes clear that they are at different stages of their personal journeys. The father has adjusted to a new way of living, while his daughter is primarily in denial.

Clara has said that, although it is fiction, she has drawn on elements of real life for Bleeding Love. 

The movie's central attraction is its realism, but while the chemistry is impressive, the subject matter is downbeat, if not depressing.

There are no easy answers and, thankfully, it doesn't offer any.

Reasons to watch: Chemistry between father and daughter

Reasons to avoid: Quite depressing

Laughs: Yes

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 6.5/10

Did you know? Ewan McGregor has five children, including a. two-year-old with Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

The final word. Emma Westenberg: "It was incredible to work with real life father-daughter duo Clara and Ewan McGregor on a story so personal to everyone involved. Their acting talents and real-life bonds combined to make them burst off the screen. I am grateful for the support of all the producers and crew on the project."

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