Scenes Of A Sexual Nature review

The writer of TV show No Angels, Aschlin Ditta, makes his feature debut with a series of poignant and funny studies of relationships between seven different couples on Hampstead Heath. Directed by newcomer Ed Blum, filmed in weeks for under £500,000 and awash with British talent, it’s like a less schmaltzy Love Actually. The fragmented structure provides patchy satisfaction, as some stories dazzle more than others: Adrian Lester and Catherine Tate intrigue as happy divorcees; Ewan McGregor and Douglas Hodge charm as gay lovers; Hugh Bonneville and Gina McKee are heartbreaking as ineffectual blind-daters; and Andrew Lincoln’s sunbather-ogling draws a few laughs. Less convincing are Sophie Okonedo’s love-split psycho, Polly Walker’s mysterious flirt and Eileen Aitkins and Benjamin Whitrow’s reunited old dears.