Emotional Backgammon

Emotional Backgammon is a 2003 British independent comedydrama about couples strategizing to repair relationships, with unexpected results. The film was written by Leon Herbert and Matthew Hope, directed by Herbert, and stars Herbert, Wil Johnson, Daniela Lavender, and Jacqueline de Peza. It is Herberts first featurelength film. During its development it was featured on UK Channel 4s Movie Virgins series upon its release, it received mixed reviews.

Herbert and Hope stated that, The script idea was drawn from countless conversations with friends in problematic relationships. It is a story about emotional blackmail, but also an analysis of insecurities, and the charged and complex control tactics we resort to in the game of love. The films production was featured on UK Channel 4s series Movie Virgins. With a budget of 6,000, it was shot on location in London, England in a total ofdays in July 1999 in 35mm by awardwinning cinematographer Koutaiba AlJanabi. Soundtrack artists included Kelly Le Roc, Lamarr, Incognito, David Lynden Hall, Fierce and Shola Ama title track.The film was met with very mixed reviews. It was described in the Daily Mail as what one reviewer called an awful misfire. The BBC review called it neither a diamond hiding in the rough, or even a half decent feature, referring to the acting as woeful, the soundtrack cloyingly overbearing, which deadens each scene, and the films sexual politics dubious, unironic, and completely uninterrogated. According to the reviewer, the films lack of understanding of sexual politics is illustrated by Steves taking a role in Shakespeares Taming of the Shrew, and the film is a clunking, and offensive, drama. ........

Source: Wikipedia