A bit of a strange film, this one. It should be brilliant: the central concept of the incestuous relationship should be harrowing, horrifying, devastating in equal measure, but the film never fully explores the consequences of the brother/sister pairing. In fact, it's a film in which nothing much really happens, despite the dramatic potential.

Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves both work hard to convey sympathy as the siblings caught up in a living nightmare, but director Poliakoff shoots the whole film as a romance when in reality a more horrific approach might have worked. The characters are also a mystery; Reeves fails to elicit much sympathy at any point, while Owen's bullish stalker comes across as more of an obsessive villain than anything else.

I spent the whole of this lengthy, slow-paced film waiting for an explosive denouement, and while there are some decent bits at the climax, it never pays off. You finish the film thinking 'Oh, was that it?' instead of being wowed by what you've just watched. And for a movie to waste Alan Rickman in an entirely boring and superfluous supporting role is something of a travesty.

Richard (Clive Owen) and his older sister Natalie (Saskia Reeves) are friend-like with some sexual tension. They grew up separately when their parents divorced. While Natalie flounders over the next few years, Richard becomes a success and a womanizer. Then she marries the wealthy business consultant Sinclair Bryant (Alan Rickman). Richard finds her changed under the domineering Sinclair. The siblings start a passionate affair together.

It's a taboo subject done with sexuality and three great actors. The brother sister relationship is compelling and weirdly mesmerizing. It's a bit disturbing with the romantic tones. It's a twisted romantic melodrama. Clive and Saskia really sell this relationship.

In England, the siblings Natalie (Saskia Reeves) and Richard (Clive Owen) every now and then are together, and Natalie usually opens her heart to her brother. Years later, Natalie gets married to the wealthy Sinclair (Alan Rickman) and in the boredom of her marriage, she has a love affair with her brother. However, Richard becomes obsessed by his sister and addicted to have sex with her. Meanwhile, Sinclair distrusts Natalie and believes she has a lover.

"Close My Eyes" is a powerful drama about the obsessive incestuous love of two siblings. The unusual triangle of love is supported by the gorgeous Saskia Reeves that has a great performance in a bold role. The always excellent Alan Rickman is the stereotype of the British gentleman and Clive Owen in the beginning of his career successfully completes the triangle of lovers. This film was released in Brazil on VHS by Globo Vídeo distributor. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Três Amores Uma Paixão" ("Three Loves One Passion")