Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole in My Heart

Marc Munden is a director whose career I've religiously followed since I first witnessed his incredible work on Channel 4's UTOPIA in 2013 (which arguably remains as his magnum opus) so as soon as I saw this - a low-budget indie flick he made early in his life as a filmmaker - was available on Amazon Prime in the UK, I jumped at the opportunity to finally watch it at home.

Hence, it's fair to say "Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole In My Heart" is a great little addition to his filmography, possessing all the qualities he has as a creator... Yet those talents he has behind the camera are not as refined here as they currently are now, considering he's had plenty of time (well over a decade) to perfect them since.

As for the movie itself, it has all the hallmarks of his usual stuff; the project's shockingly original, tackling the theme of addiction by featuring a somewhat lesser acknowledged / understood form of it, which has wider societal implications, asking deeper questions about how we - collectively, as a consumerist, capitalist country - manufacture the circumstances for this specific condition to fester. Therefore, it's addressed in a somewhat uncompromising, topical fashion & he ensures the piece still relevant today in 2022, evoking an emotional response, provoking discussion & doing what art is generally meant to do; inspire. Does it provide answers to the questions it has? No, but it acknowledges how there's something deeply wrong with our culture when this can happen to those within it & leaves it to the audience to decipher for themselves what solutions there could possibly be to such a complex issue.

Compulsive shopping disorder is a form of obsessive, self-destructive behaviour only possible in the modern age: the cumbersomely titled 'Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole in my Heart' is a bleak, worthy drama constructed to illustrate this strange phenomenon. We're introduced to Nathalie, a lonely woman married to an uncommunicative husband (played by Stephen Mackintosh, giving his stock performance in this role). Living in a very material world, she puts high value on nice things; and gradually sinks into a deep depression from which only semi-permanent "retail therapy" can lift her. But we never really see what has led to her initial loneliness; nor do we see her really ever take pleasure in her purchases, even in the early days; nor even what she does with them (a serious point, buy a handbag a day and your cupboard is soon full). Instead, we have a drama consisting only of a sequence of miserable developments, which fails to portray the ordinary life that is eventually extinguished by Nathalie's growing addiction. In some ways, it reminded me of the work of Tony Marchant, cutting quickly between key scenes but lacking the rhythms of ordinary life; and it's hard anyway to feel that sympathetic for a rich couple who may lose some of their hard-earned gains, but who never face sleeping on the streets or going hungry. If the story had been more about Nathalie per se, and less about the particular way in which her unhappiness manifested itself, it might have been a warmer tale.

Nathalie and Jeremy are a professional married couple who live a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. He is a doctor with a promising future while she works as a shopping assistant in a high class clothes shop. Being up on the latest fashions and always helping others buy nice things, Nathalie likes to shop before going home – regularly buying her daughter new things to let her know she cares. However as she uses purchases and the shine of new possessions as a substitute for happiness she finds herself sinking further into debt and losing touch with her family's financial reality.

Addiction in any form can be dangerous – it is a clichéd saying but too much of anything is bad and it does have an element of truth to it. Commercialisation has hidden the addiction to spending as part of the normal way of life and credit card debt is now the norm rather than a problem. Men and women will indulge in retail therapy and buy the shiny new things referred to in the title and there is nothing wrong with this as long as we manage it. It is too easy to get used to living beyond our means and seeking the lifestyle of those richer or in magazines even if we have no feasible way of keeping it up. Although this film does touch on the "normal" aspect of this problem, the focus is on Nathalie who has had spending problems before and is starting to sink back into shopping after work, leaving her daughter with her mum. Although her spending is a disorder rather than a habit and is extreme within the film it still makes for an engaging cautionary tale about debt, spending and retail therapy.

The story has enough recognisable factors and Nathalie's disorder is only an extreme version of the norm, with the roots of it being things we can mostly recognise (most people feel better buying new stuff). The direction brings her compulsion out well and uses close shots and subtle camera movements to good effect but the real heart of the film is Hawkins' performance. She is convincing in her portrayal of the woman who swings emotionally and cannot stop herself falling into her habit. Although actions such as the pony and the Audi TT are extreme, she somehow carries it off – it is an impressive performance. Mackintosh is good even though his character is a bit too weak – in real life many partners will overlook spending but it was a hard sell that he would accept such extreme action from someone he knows struggles with it. Despite this he still works well and convinces with a timid character. Outside of these two the support is good (Nat's rich friend is strong in later moments) but the film is owned by Hawkins.

A very enjoyable and engaging BBC2 drama then that is serves as a relevant cautionary tale and also a good drama. The direction is good with close shots drawing the audience in but it is Hawkins' performance that makes the film so engaging – she is convincing as she is driven along by her addiction in the constant pursuit of happiness which burns out as soon as the new things are out of their box.