Hollow Reed
Encyclopedia
Hollow Reed is a 1996 drama film
directed by Angela Pope. The story takes place in Bath, Somerset.
) and her live-in boyfriend Frank Donally (Jason Flemyng
) and spends occasional afternoons with his father Martyn Wyatt (Martin Donovan
). After Oliver suffers a series of mysterious physical injuries, on which he vaguely blames neighbordhood bullies, suspicions are raised by his General practitioner
father against Hannah's boyfriend, Frank.
While Martyn becomes firmly convinced Frank is abusing his son, Oliver maintains a silence about the true source of his injuries, and Hannah refuses to believe Frank could be abusing her son. Martyn begins court proceedings to gain sole custody of Oliver, though his homosexual relationship with Tom Dixon (Ian Hart
) is brought as evidence by Hannah's lawyer of the unsuitability of Martyn's home. Only after she catches Frank abusing Oliver does Hannah accept that her boyfriend is the source of Oliver's injuries, though she is swayed by Frank's pleas and agrees to remain quiet about the issue and promises Oliver that the abuse will end.
In the climactic scene, Oliver attacks Frank and is saved from a terrible beating by his father, Martyn, who instead receives Frank's wrath. As Frank's savagery is witnessed not only by Hannah, Oliver, and Tom, but by Hannah's neighbors as well (Who in turn call the police.), the film ends with Hannah visiting Oliver, who now resides with his father, and asking him if he'd like to return to her home on occasion, now that Frank no longer lives with her. (Its implied that he is now serving a prison sentence for abusing Oliver.) Her request is met with stony silence from Oliver.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Angela Pope. The story takes place in Bath, Somerset.
Plot
Oliver Wyatt (Sam Bould) lives with his mother Hannah Wyatt (Joely RichardsonJoely Richardson
Joely Kim Richardson is an English actress, most known recently for her role as Queen Catherine Parr in the Showtime television show The Tudors and Julia McNamara in the television drama Nip/Tuck...
) and her live-in boyfriend Frank Donally (Jason Flemyng
Jason Flemyng
Jason Iain Flemyng is an English actor. He is known for his film work, which has included roles in British films such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch , both for Guy Ritchie, as well as Hollywood productions such as Rob Roy along with the Alan Moore comic book adaptations From...
) and spends occasional afternoons with his father Martyn Wyatt (Martin Donovan
Martin Donovan
Martin Donovan is an American stage and film actor. He has had a long collaboration with the director Hal Hartley, appearing in many of his films, including Trust , Surviving Desire , Simple Men , Flirt , Amateur , and The Book of Life...
). After Oliver suffers a series of mysterious physical injuries, on which he vaguely blames neighbordhood bullies, suspicions are raised by his General practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
father against Hannah's boyfriend, Frank.
While Martyn becomes firmly convinced Frank is abusing his son, Oliver maintains a silence about the true source of his injuries, and Hannah refuses to believe Frank could be abusing her son. Martyn begins court proceedings to gain sole custody of Oliver, though his homosexual relationship with Tom Dixon (Ian Hart
Ian Hart
Ian Hart is an English stage, television and film actor.-Early life:Hart, the grandson of Irish immigrants, was born in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. He is one of three siblings and was brought up in a Roman Catholic family...
) is brought as evidence by Hannah's lawyer of the unsuitability of Martyn's home. Only after she catches Frank abusing Oliver does Hannah accept that her boyfriend is the source of Oliver's injuries, though she is swayed by Frank's pleas and agrees to remain quiet about the issue and promises Oliver that the abuse will end.
In the climactic scene, Oliver attacks Frank and is saved from a terrible beating by his father, Martyn, who instead receives Frank's wrath. As Frank's savagery is witnessed not only by Hannah, Oliver, and Tom, but by Hannah's neighbors as well (Who in turn call the police.), the film ends with Hannah visiting Oliver, who now resides with his father, and asking him if he'd like to return to her home on occasion, now that Frank no longer lives with her. (Its implied that he is now serving a prison sentence for abusing Oliver.) Her request is met with stony silence from Oliver.