SCRIPT: Bent Soul
Have you ever made a sudden movement which was followed by a sharp and unexpected pain? Maybe you let out a large yawn or turned suddenly. You would certainly attribute this pain to a pulled muscle or something of that nature. But what if the pain was followed by an overwhelming feeling of emptiness? That’s what happened to Ryan Foulk in Christopher Bate’s latest script Bent Soul. The doctor diagnoses him with a case of “bent soul” for which only Ryan can find the cure. Armed with only a useless NHS pamphlet from the GP, Ryan and his best friend Kyle set out to sort out Ryan’s soul. Along the way they meet a variety of weird and wonderful people and embark on a series of adventures involving religion, a midget and a hot-looking therapist among others.
The story is original and captivating much in the way that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was. The notion of a bent soul, like erased memories, is fantastical but offers an appealing explanation for that pain we all experience in deep sadness or heartbreak. For example, have you ever felt so heartbroken that you were in physical pain? The idea that some part of you was physically broken through grief or emotional trauma doesn’t seem so far fetched at the time. So is Christopher Bate the next Charlie Kauffman? Perhaps, but there are clearly other influences at work. For example, the pairing of sensitive and sensible Ryan with horny and precocious Kyle owes some credit to the films of Kevin Smith. Much like Kevin Smith’s films, Bent Soul is also heavy with dialogue and observational comedy. Don’t expect a UK version of Clerks or Mallrats, however. It is far more imaginative and sensitive than that. After all of their weird and wonderful encounters, Ryan and Kyle still have to deal with the painful events that have lead to his soul getting bent in the first place. A lot of films don't easily make the leap between the funny and the personal which results in a disjointed film. This script, however, handles the transition very well and in an honest and touching way. While you can see where Chris was influenced, this is clearly an original story.
If you have any clout in the film industry I ask you a favour. Get this film made. It would mean a lot to the writer, obviously. From a purely selfish point of view, however, it would make me happy too because the script is the funniest thing I’ve read in ages and it’s the sort of thing that I would like to see. So go on, make a girl happy.
The story is original and captivating much in the way that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was. The notion of a bent soul, like erased memories, is fantastical but offers an appealing explanation for that pain we all experience in deep sadness or heartbreak. For example, have you ever felt so heartbroken that you were in physical pain? The idea that some part of you was physically broken through grief or emotional trauma doesn’t seem so far fetched at the time. So is Christopher Bate the next Charlie Kauffman? Perhaps, but there are clearly other influences at work. For example, the pairing of sensitive and sensible Ryan with horny and precocious Kyle owes some credit to the films of Kevin Smith. Much like Kevin Smith’s films, Bent Soul is also heavy with dialogue and observational comedy. Don’t expect a UK version of Clerks or Mallrats, however. It is far more imaginative and sensitive than that. After all of their weird and wonderful encounters, Ryan and Kyle still have to deal with the painful events that have lead to his soul getting bent in the first place. A lot of films don't easily make the leap between the funny and the personal which results in a disjointed film. This script, however, handles the transition very well and in an honest and touching way. While you can see where Chris was influenced, this is clearly an original story.
If you have any clout in the film industry I ask you a favour. Get this film made. It would mean a lot to the writer, obviously. From a purely selfish point of view, however, it would make me happy too because the script is the funniest thing I’ve read in ages and it’s the sort of thing that I would like to see. So go on, make a girl happy.
posted by Stephanie at 2:11 AM
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