We meet people all the time. The paths of human beings continually cross and an endless flow of intended and unintended consequences build the intricacies of human interaction. Marek Losey's 2008 film 'The Hide' relates the chance encounter of two men in a remote bird-watching hide on the bleak Suffolk mudflats. Although they are unaware of it,their stories run closely paralel to each other. Roy Tunt (Alex Macqueen) is a middle-aged,repressed,obsessive ornithologist who secretes himself in the hide in order to spot an elusive bird,the sociable plover and thus attain the status of having observed and recorded all the birds on the British List. In the midst of this emptiness,a brooding stranger,David John (Philip Campbell) suddenly enters the hide in order to take refuge from the brewing storm. A wary and uncomfortable initial encounter eases into increasingly revealing conversation as their similarities break through the deceptions of appearences. Both men are haunted by an inner darkness,Tunt from his marital breakdown and John from disturbing mental flashes of scavenging crows. Mutual tension tightens it's grip when Tunt hears over his two-way radio that a police manhunt is underway on the mudflats. The two stories coldly creep closer and closer together until the hideous and macabre darkness hiding in the recesses of their minds finally collide. The result for both men is grave. It is only then that we fully realize why these two men are are at this spot on map on this grim,stormy day.
Tim Whitnall adapted his own stage play 'The Sociable Plover' to the big screen and his superbly-crafted script develops the two characters with acute insight,observation and intelligence. The push and pull between Tunt and John is a marvel of script,direction and acting. Although the film is of a serious nature,a sprinkling of subtle and understated humour is there to be enjoyed.
When a film only places two actors before the camera,the acting has to be good if a shambles is to be avoided. Here it is magnificent. Alex Macquuen plays Tunt to perfection.It is hard to imagine any other actor raising the level any higher. Listen to the moment when he whispers "Is it so precious this gift of life...I would'nt thrust this misery on anybody." It evokes being touched by an ice-cold hand in the darkness. Philip Campbell's acting is also of a very high standard. He admirably portrays his underlying amiable nature and humour which is burdened under the weight of life's pain and failures.
'The Hide' is an outstanding achievement and a life-giving antedote to the glut of mediocrity in the world of film making.