Two figures, Andrew Kötting and Toby Jones, portray middle-aged John Clare, channeling his psychic wound in their own way. The film follows Clare as he navigates between the Epping Forest asylum and a hospital in Northamptonshire, often finding himself lost and alone. Kötting, dressed as a straw bear, embodies otherness and struggles through the hard realities of his journey, eating from the hedgerow and sleeping on gravel. The story is framed by the two asylum interludes, where Clare's desperation to find direction is palpable among the ancient trees.
By Our Selves
The film explores the complex character of John Clare, portrayed by Andrew Kötting and Toby Jones, as they delve into the emotional scars of the poet's life.
