Dirty Filthy Love Reviews

In September 2004, ITV screening an award winning drama about an OCD and Tourette sufferer which was watched by 4.4 million viewers. Written by an OCD sufferer, Ian Puleston-Davies OCD-UK exclusively interviewed Ian which appears in our Dec 2004 newsletter.

The charity fielded over 500 calls immediately after the screening which did a tremendous job of raising awareness, however it did not go down well with everybody, so read some of those reviews......

Read an exclusive OCD-UK interview with Ian Puleston-Davies

You can buy a copy of the film from the OCD-UK shop.

Review by Stephen

Well, having not really been on the board since the programme was shown I've been able to read everyone's reviews so far.

I think I agree with most of you that the main value of the programme was to raise awareness. To have two whole hours on primetime national TV on OCD/TS was excellent, and something that is unlikely to happen often. I also thought the acting quality and the overall dramatic setting were excellent.

However, like many of you, I also felt that the programme had its' flaws. There were too many types / symptoms crammed in, and it might have helped to focus (with the main characters) on fewer in more detail, and, like someone else has suggested, introduce the others in the Support Group setting. The combining of OCD and TS into the one character, and his descent into 'feral' (as someone put it) living and stalking behaviour, and the (albeit brief) violence at the garden party, do not reflect well on the reality of OCD (at least as I understand it). I for one will now be more reluctant for the time being to announce myself to people as someone who has suffered from OCD symptoms, without a strong 'caveat' that 'I'm not as bad as that character'. Also, I agree that the OCD behaviour in the Support Group was all too overt, and not matching the (admittedly few) experiences I have had in group settings. However I quite agree that people's behaviour in their own homes may be quite different, and this was portrayed well.

Additionally I personally was uncomfortable with the sexual content and bad language (except the TS manifestations, which were realistic, I think (?)), and also the title which implied this content from the start, even if this was not intended. I guess the decision was taken that a 'mainstream' audience would need this 'hook' to want to watch the programme, which of course (perversely) helped the awareness raising!

There were some good moments - both moments of pure humour and those little snippets which strike home. I particularly liked the 'Wet Wipes amnesty', the description of the broken glass incident (which struck home for me), and the rituals done on the Underground, demonstrating the 'need' to ritualise despite the inconvenience. The portrayal of Trichitillomania was, if a little late in the day, good too.

Like most reviewers I have taken I suppose a personal look at the drama - 'what did it mean for me?'. However I would like to end by saying (in a guarded way in this case) that maybe any publicity is good publicity. I certainly learned of someone I know having OCD as a result of this.

Review by Kathryn

I've read all of your comments with interest over the last week regarding the film and I thought maybe it would be a good time for me to add my own views now. But before I go any further and risk putting anyone's nose out of joint or what have you - these are my opinions only (for what they are worth).

On the whole I thought the film was extremely well written and produced. I thought Michael Sheen's performance was excellent and very moving. I also thought that Shirley Henderson was really good in her role as Charlotte. I also felt there was a good cross section of (and I hate to use this word) 'normal' characters as well.

However, I did have issues with one particular plot - and that was the 'stalking' thread of the story. I felt this was unnecessary and also portrayed OCD'ers in a bad light - speaking as a writer (albeit unpublished ) a certain amount of dramatic license HAS to be used to make the story interesting, keep the pace up and keep the viewer engaged (I was taught this in my degree course) but this plotline made me cringe as it may seem like any OCD'er who splits up with their partner would turn into a stalker, which is most definitely NOT the case.

I also noticed a few of you were saying that you couldn't relate to it because it didn't go into the Pure 'O' side of things. I also noted that some responses stated that it would have been impossible to portray that - I have to say that speaking from a writers perspective you COULD portray Pure 'O' very easily within a script and put it across effectively, there are other ways and means of indicating dramatic truth than just coming out and saying 'I have Pure 'O' ' that can be easily interpreted by the viewer. Maybe that's a challenge for me? *shuffles off nervously*

At the end of the day you can't please everyone the whole time. On the whole I enjoyed it - apart from the odd bugbear here and there. I laughed, I cried and felt uncomfortable with it too - but then that's the whole point of drama - it's designed to stir up all these different emotions in each and every one of us!

I think Ian Puleston-Davies should be congratulated for actually having the guts to write about his own life and experiences and have it played out in front of millions of viewers - that's an amazing achievement in itself and another real OCD Success Story!

Anyway, as I said - just my opinion, really.

 

Review by Kirstie

Dirty Filthy Love has had mixed reviews some biased others not and from an objective point of view. Objectively, this comedy drama was an excellent well written piece which has portrayed ocd symptoms and tourettes syndrome symptoms spot on.It showed a well varied range of types of ocd.The main two characters were played particularly well.

The scene in the office between the main character and his bosses was an excellent scene which showed how some people may react to unknown conditions like tourettes syndrome and ocd.This gives an excellent example of what some people with these conditions face daily.

The scene in the doctors office was a particular important part as it is a prime example of the difficulties many people with ocd and tourettes syndrome face when trying to get medical help.

The comedy element of this drama was also excellent such as when everyone was in the support group at first and some people wouldn't sit down,others were checking etc,and when the group went on the trip to the farm and one character was worried about wellington boots that was great as well as it lightened the serious aspect of what the main theme was.

On the downside, the characters as a whole were a bit over dramatised, possibly too many types of ocd were trying to be dealt with in too little time and showing the main character getting obsessive about his ex wife may lead to some people who know nothing about ocd to take the view as that is what everyone is like. However i think the very minority would only have thought that.

In conclusion it was a warm, well written piece and portrayed ocd and tourettes syndrome perfectly.It has also done its job in raising awareness of these conditions which are not well known about.The response after the programme was aired, to ocd support groups and charities simply speaks for itself.This programme has touched peoples hearts and souls and clearly has made its mark in time with all the debates over it.This surely has to be the key point to this programme, raising awareness.

Review by Potato Salad from OCD-UK Bulletin Board

I thought the film was good in parts, dreadful in others but overall gave a good representation of ocd (if a little over dramatised).

I liked the beginning of it, which showed how someone who has ocd but is unaware of it manages in life. I thought it was a good portrayal of a person in this situation, which I am sure, is something many of us can relate to.

I thought the bit with the doctor was great as it really showed how ignorant many are in the medical profession and how difficult it is for those with ocd to get good help in dealing with the condition.

When he finds out he has ocd and tourettes it comes as a relief to find out that other people suffer from the same thing, again very true to life. The part where he is reading out his ocd symptoms in the group and also describing them to his flatmates was brilliant, really touching and superbly done, showing what it is like to suffer from ocd.

It annoyed me how they skimmed over the cbt part in the pub and failed to mention that it CAN be treated successfully. I also found it difficult that finding out he had ocd he does nothing about it and actually gets WORSE rather than better after he has found out.
I also did not like the way if made most of the characters out to be freaks but I suppose most portrayals of mental health are like this so in a way it is nothing new.

The bit when he is locked up in his flat rewinding the wedding video was silly, seemingly trying to turn him into Howard Hughes. The actual story between the two main characters with really annoying and the ending was pretty poor as well.

Overall I thought it was good as it got more publicity for ocd and did a great job of showing what it is like to suffer from it. The actors did a good job and the lead was great, managing to play a difficult part very well. A bit a shame the plot was not better and did not show him getting treatment, but hey, you cant have everything.

 

Review by Lee

Having found out about the airing of this drama, I had mixed feelings with regard to watching it alone or with my girlfriend, as although my partner knows about my OCD and obviously is aware of most of my ritual and compulsions etc, we both still find it very difficult/embarrassing to talk about it. This in mind I suggested that we watch the programme together, hopeful that the story would somehow help to explain, through the main characters fears and feelings, them of my own.

I was very surprised to see how well the condition was portrayed early on in the film and I soon found myself being able to relate to the characters , especially when some of my own rituals and compulsions were the same or very similar to those in the group. Although I never obsess with the light switch when there are others in the room(how funny was that, I am still laughing now at the thought). Another very real scene was that of Mark and his GP, where Mark really wants to talk about his condition and the GP, very uneasy about this concludes that its just his depression and that the answer to his questions lie within this depression, that could so easily have been my GP.

At this stage of the film I was beginning to feel a little less uncomfortable about my own condition and was thinking whether to ask people at work whether they saw the film, with a view to telling a few close colleagues about my own condition, this made me feel very confident and for the first time in a long time unashamed of my illness.

Unfortunately this feeling was not to last. What started out to be a good portrayal of an OCD suffers daily life soon became yet another over the top, ratings focused drama that forgot about the real subject issue and started to give the impression that stalking, violence and "going feral" were all conditions of the illness. The impression I got of Mark towards the end of the film, were that of someone who was completely out of control and dangerous. That's my opinion and I am a sufferer of the illness who could relate to his mental state. God knows what none sufferers impression of the character and the illness must be.

I therefore had a quick change of heart and decided not to mention the programme at work, then immediately started to worry whether any of my colleagues who had seen the film may now notice some of my rituals and think that I to am, or is headed the same way as Mark. So, having now had time to reflect I have asked myself the following:

Do I feel better having watched it? Could it have been better? Has it helped raise awareness?

My honest answer to all the above is yes, I do feel better for having seen it, always good to know that your not alone and that someone somewhere took the time to make a British film about the condition. Nothings perfect, we should know, so of course it could have been better, I'm sure in a selfish way we all wanted it to be fully about our own condition, and that we could have learnt something that we don't already know, and Yes, it is sure to help raise awareness, hopefully the film was seen by youngsters who will be able to recognise the symptoms and seek further advice/help on how to cope, as I know that when I was growing up, I had no idea what my condition was or who to talk to, especially when you believe that talking about it will lead to something bad happening.

I would love to know what others thought.

 

Review by Vicki

I must admit that I loved the Dirty Filthy Love last night, although I was a little uneasy with some of the scenes.

I am not surprised that OCD-UK received so many calls directly after the program. A year ago I was in the same position as I'm sure everyone here has been. That disturbing feeling that you know you are different to everyone else, but you can't put your finger on why. The feeling that you are the only one, and it never occurs to you that there could be others out there with the same feelings. I thought that at the beginning of the film, Dirty Filthy Love captured that feeling of isolation and confusion brilliantly. I must admit to crying at the scene of the first support group meeting when Charlotte said to Mark'you thought you were the only one didn't you?'. The relief and amazement that he felt was very moving, as that is exactly how I felt after watching a documentary on OCD last year.

However, there were certain aspects of the program that I was less enthusiastic about. I know that OCD has many different forms and that it is impossible to capture all of them in a 2 hour drama. However, I felt that the fact that all members of the support group had cleanliness obsessions was misleading. I was also concerned about portraying Mark as an obsessive stalker, and that people may take the 'obsessive' in OCD to mean that kind of obsession, rather than the obsessions that are generally concerned with harm to themselves and others.

I was pleased that the writer included Tourettes. I too suffer from tics, although thankfully not to the extent of Mark, and thought that the actor carried them off very realistically. I found it quite emotional watching him struggle to keep them under control, and his frustration and anger with himself when he couldn't do so.

Admittedly, Dirty, Filthy Love portrayed OCD sufferers as a bit crazy, but at the end of the day, it will have got people talking and raised awareness, which is what OCD-UK is fighting for. I'm sure that there are many people today who have identified with the program and are seeing themselves in a whole new light, relieved and amazed that they too are not the only one.

 

Review by Ian

I found the film very exciting to watch but, as an OCDer, I didn't find it as easy to relate to as I would have expected and also I think for those without OCD I do not think that it would give them a very good insight into the condition.

Let me list the things that bothered me a bit:

(i) It didn't seem to show OCD things that many of the people on the site write about, e.g. repeated checking to see if the cooker is off, fear of harm to other people, repeated checking of letters or, when driving, hit-and-run OCD.

(ii) It concentrated more on Tourettes Syndrome and Trichotillomania which I think are different to OCD.

(iii) There was a responsibility OCD incident (the broken aftershave bottle) but I think that this was not clearly illustrated.

(iv) The contamination OCD message wasn't clear either. Once when Mark trod in something unpleasant, he wiped it off with his handkerchief, whereas an OCDer would presumably worry about the contamination then being very likely to come directly into contact with his (her) hands. Surely he should have at least worn gloves or just scraped his foot on plenty of grass? With the other contamination situation (where he burnt his feet with bleach) it would have been good to see him throwing away his shoes and socks something he surely would have done if he felt so badly about it that he burnt his feet with bleach. Also, if he was that concerned about what he might step in, he would have walked around looking at the ground to be careful that he didn't t step in it in the first place!

(v) With Charlotte throwing away the rubbish bags and keeping her distance from the bin itself, it wasn't very obvious that this was what she as doing.

Sorry not to be more positive, but, as I say I enjoyed it tremendously as a film. Also, many of you can probably relate to the particular OCD problems that were portrayed better than I can. I'd be very glad to see reviews from a large number of people on this.
Ian

 

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