Dirty Filthy Love
Encyclopedia
Dirty Filthy Love is a British single television drama
starring Michael Sheen
as an architect living with obsessive-compulsive disorder
and Tourette syndrome
.
Directed by Adrian Shergold, the film was first broadcast by ITV
on 26 September 2004. It was written by Jeff Pope and Ian Puleston-Davies
, who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorders himself. In addition to Michael Sheen, the cast features Shirley Henderson
, Anastasia Griffith
, Adrian Bower
and Claudie Blakley
.
Sheen's performance was recognised with a Best Actor nomination at the 2005 British Academy Television Awards
and both he and Henderson were nominees for 2005 Royal Television Society
Awards. Dirty Filthy Love won the Best Single Drama category at the RTS Awards. It was released on DVD in the United States in 2005 by Hart Sharp Video in association with The Sundance Channel.
His life gets even worse when, at a meeting with his employers, he finds himself swearing uncontrollably and loses his job. Accepting he is unwell, Mark visits a doctor already convinced he is suffering from a brain tumour or meningitis
. In the doctor's waiting room another patient, Charlotte (Henderson), recognises Mark's "habits" as symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette syndrome, and invites him to a local self-help group
she runs. Mark finds it comforting that others share his disorder and with Charlotte's help, hopes to face his problems and win his wife back.
Mark tries to beat his disease and is making some progress despite learning his wife is petitioning him for divorce. While meeting her to discuss terms - after covering himself in chocolate powder to combat his obsessive cleanliness - Mark and Stevie have sex. Mark interprets this as a sign that they will be reunited, but Charlotte warns it is nothing but "sympathy sex", leading to an argument between the friends. Mark storms off but realises Charlotte may be right when he sees Stevie with another man in their marital house.
This plunges Mark into depression
. His disorders deteriorate and, cutting contact with his friends completely, he moves into a rundown bedsit
. His situation gets worse still when (now with unkempt hair, matted beard and shabby clothes) he begins to stalk
Stevie, convinced she has begun a relationship with another man. Almost unrecognisable, he even attacks his friend Nathan on the street because he thinks Stevie is having an affair with him.
At his lowest point, Mark learns the truth about Stevie and her new relationship. The story ends with Mark still suffering from his symptoms, but Charlotte re-enters his life and they begin a romantic relationship themselves. Charlotte, able to accept Mark as he is, provides the support for Mark to continue his battle.
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
starring Michael Sheen
Michael Sheen
Michael Christopher Sheen, OBE , is a Welsh stage and screen actor. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England and made his professional debut opposite Vanessa Redgrave in When She Danced at the Globe Theatre in 1991...
as an architect living with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive–compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions...
and Tourette syndrome
Tourette syndrome
Tourette syndrome is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by multiple physical tics and at least one vocal tic; these tics characteristically wax and wane...
.
Directed by Adrian Shergold, the film was first broadcast by ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
on 26 September 2004. It was written by Jeff Pope and Ian Puleston-Davies
Ian Puleston-Davies
-Early life and career:Born in Flint, Wales, Puleston-Davies has starred in the ITV drama Vincent alongside Ray Winstone, and Ghostboat , alongside David Jason. He has also played the lead roles in Conviction and the BBC Three series Funland.He has starred in long-running dramas such as Holby...
, who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorders himself. In addition to Michael Sheen, the cast features Shirley Henderson
Shirley Henderson
Shirley Henderson is a Scottish actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire .-Early life:...
, Anastasia Griffith
Anastasia Griffith
Anastasia Griffith is a British actress known for her roles on the FX legal drama Damages and the NBC series Trauma.-Career:...
, Adrian Bower
Adrian Bower
Adrian Bower is an English actor, best known for his role as physical education and geography teacher Brian Steadman in the first three series of the British comedy series Teachers...
and Claudie Blakley
Claudie Blakley
Claudia "Claudie" Blakley is an English actress.Her father was Alan Blakely, a member of the 1960s pop band The Tremeloes, and her sister Kirsten Blakley is lead singer of the indie band Little Spitfire. Blakley trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama...
.
Sheen's performance was recognised with a Best Actor nomination at the 2005 British Academy Television Awards
British Academy Television Awards
The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:...
and both he and Henderson were nominees for 2005 Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
Awards. Dirty Filthy Love won the Best Single Drama category at the RTS Awards. It was released on DVD in the United States in 2005 by Hart Sharp Video in association with The Sundance Channel.
Plot
Mark Furness (Sheen), once a successful architect, finds it increasingly difficult to control his "bad habits", such as climbing stairs in a strange sequence, swearing involuntarily and washing himself compulsively. His wife, Stevie (Griffith) asks him to leave their home, so he seeks solace with his best friends Nathan (Bower) and Kathy (Blakley) to take him under their wing.His life gets even worse when, at a meeting with his employers, he finds himself swearing uncontrollably and loses his job. Accepting he is unwell, Mark visits a doctor already convinced he is suffering from a brain tumour or meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
. In the doctor's waiting room another patient, Charlotte (Henderson), recognises Mark's "habits" as symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette syndrome, and invites him to a local self-help group
Self-help group
Self-help group may refer to:*Support group, group in which members provide each other with various types of help for a particular shared characteristic...
she runs. Mark finds it comforting that others share his disorder and with Charlotte's help, hopes to face his problems and win his wife back.
Mark tries to beat his disease and is making some progress despite learning his wife is petitioning him for divorce. While meeting her to discuss terms - after covering himself in chocolate powder to combat his obsessive cleanliness - Mark and Stevie have sex. Mark interprets this as a sign that they will be reunited, but Charlotte warns it is nothing but "sympathy sex", leading to an argument between the friends. Mark storms off but realises Charlotte may be right when he sees Stevie with another man in their marital house.
This plunges Mark into depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
. His disorders deteriorate and, cutting contact with his friends completely, he moves into a rundown bedsit
Bedsit
A bedsit, also known as a bed-sitting room, is a form of rented accommodation common in Great Britain and Ireland consisting of a single room and shared bathroom; they are part of a legal category of dwellings referred to as Houses in multiple occupation....
. His situation gets worse still when (now with unkempt hair, matted beard and shabby clothes) he begins to stalk
Stalk
Stalk may refer to:* Plant stem, one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant* Leaf stalk, also known as Petiole* Flower stalk, also known as Peduncle* Stalking, an act of intrusive behavior or unwanted attention towards a person...
Stevie, convinced she has begun a relationship with another man. Almost unrecognisable, he even attacks his friend Nathan on the street because he thinks Stevie is having an affair with him.
At his lowest point, Mark learns the truth about Stevie and her new relationship. The story ends with Mark still suffering from his symptoms, but Charlotte re-enters his life and they begin a romantic relationship themselves. Charlotte, able to accept Mark as he is, provides the support for Mark to continue his battle.