Signs of Life

Directed and written by Joseph Millson, Signs of Life is his debut feature. He’s probably better known as an actor with a long, varied career in film, TV and theatre.

The film opens with Anne (Sarah-Jane Potts) trying to buy a drink at the airport and flustered that they only take cards. Anne doesn’t say a word and it transpires that she can’t (or wont) speak for reasons that become clearer later.

Landing in Lanzarote Anne finds her hotel and wanders around spotting a struggling jogger taking selfies. That night she’s disturbed by her hotel neighbours, one of whom threatens her when she complains about their noise.

She leaves the hotel with her case, sleeps rough and the next morning ends up in a bar where she sees the jogger who jovially gives her a thumbs up. While there she’s joined by Joyce (Sharon Duce) an elderly traveller living life to the full, on her terms, and happy to tell Anne all about it.

Another rough night and Anne is back at the bar. This time the jogger Bill (David Ganly) arrives not so happy struggling with cramp.

His story isn’t a happy one. He’d been expecting to go on holiday with his children only for his ex to stop them. Bill is on his own, trying to make the best of the situation but giving up and going home. Bill offers Anne a room, she initially turn’s down but in the end has no choice but to accept.

What develops is a platonic relationship between two people who have suffered deep personal traumas. Bill with his children though there are reasons scattered but the film as to why he’s on his own. Similarly Anne is there to deal with grief and possibly guilt.

There’s never a hint that the friendship will go beyond them sharing the home, though there’s a blunt comic interlude that plays on misunderstanding. This is two people who have found some common space to relate and talk. They aren’t without fault, Bill is forever apologizing and has other issues, Anne’s sincerity is called into question later on.

Millson has given the actors a lot of space to work with, which they use well. Potts relying on facial ticks and quizzical expressions for the most part, Ganly is much more expressive with Bill overcompensating on almost everything his character’s mind in turmoil. But for all the excellent acting and then understanding their issues it’s an effort to properly empathise with them.

The film looks stunning with Millson using the sun, colour and landscapes to excellent effect with some beautiful compositions. Also working brilliantly with the players and settings is Anne Dudley and Peter James Millson’s score underpinning the loss and sadness at the core yet offering some optimism.

Signs of Life will be in select UK cinemas on 5 September from Bulldog Film Distribution.