Two Days, Nine Lives

| Synopsis |

Two Days, Nine Lives opened in March 2001. Glenn played the role of a drug addict, who was named "Jesus." The film was produced and directed by Simon Monjack. It was written by Simon Monjack, Nick McDowell, and Jessica Wells. The score is by Paul Honey.

One challenge to the actors during shooting of Two Days, Nine Lives was that the director made his decisions regarding what to shoot on a day-by-day basis. The actors would arrive every morning not knowing whether or not they would be required that day. Glenn has been asked if he sees a pattern in being cast as "Jesus," in this film, in Whistle Down the Wind, and in Jesus Christ Superstar. However, the characters in Whistle and Two Days are not Jesus; the only thing they have in common with Jesus is that they are each a man upon whom others have projected characteristics and expectations. Glenns performance in Two Days, Nine Lives is quite shocking insomuch as he doesn't say anything until the end of the film, when he makes a powerful and emotive speech. His European accent adds to the shock. Well worth watching if you get the chance.

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"Don't jump up and down."

The mood of Two Days, Nine Lives has its roots in cinema v�rit�. It opens with Saul (Luke Goss), a movie producer, recklessly driving his car while having an argument on his cel phone; his daughter is in the back seat. There is an accident and drugs are a factor. Saul's girlfriend, Claire (Rosie Fellner), insists that Saul check into a rehabilitation clinic. The film follows Saul, six other patients, and their counsellors over the next 48 hours in the clinic, The Bridge, in Surrey, England. The audience discovers the histories of some of the patients and follows the alliances and self-discoveries that are made. Saul is attracted to Joanna (Georgia Reece), a heroin addict who is HIV-positive and tormented by the tragic death of her boyfriend. Star (Sabrina Van Tassel) is a sex addict and prostitute, who also befriends Joanna. Rupert (Simon Shepherd) is addicted to gambling and hopes to salvage his marriage and his life. Danny (Jonathan Bruun) is angry and bitter, attempting to overcome a drug habit, which he has tried and failed to kick many times before. Katie (Sienna Guillory) is a young pop star addicted to cocaine; she is attracted to Danny. The character named "Jesus" (played by Glenn) is a drug addict who is strangely silent and brooding. His silence is interpreted as strength by the other patients, and it annoys them because they are weak. The other two characters, for a total of nine altogether, are the counsellors, Polly (Susan Jameson) and Clive (Ralph Arliss), who have their own troubled pasts.

A focal point of the interaction is the conflict between Danny and Saul. As part of their therapy, Clive, Rupert, Joanna, Danny and Saul re-enact an event in which Saul had killed someone in self-defence. What starts out as acting turns into a real fight between Danny and Saul. Danny is provoked because Saul reminds him of his abusive father. Danny's anger boils over several more times. He blames Clive for allowing the fight to get out of hand. He allows Saul to inflame him in other confrontations. He displaces his anger onto Jesus and strikes him. Danny confides in Katie, and she reveals that she has smuggled drugs into the clinic. Danny tells Katie that he plans to escape from the clinic that night.

Danny and Saul quarrel again during the last therapy session of the day. This time Star stops the violence by disclosing her secret: She had been raped. In the end, it is the mute Jesus who finally speaks and illuminates the significance of the earlier events and life in general. The patients' problems are not yet resolved. It is excruciatingly hard to face their demons, but there is hope that they may begin to live again.

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