By Our Selves (2015)

"By Our Selves" (2015) weaves a captivating narrative around two distinctive characters, Andrew Kötting and Toby Jones, who intermittently channel the psyche of the midlife John Clare. Caught in a solitary existence between the Epping Forest asylum and a Northamptonshire hospital, Clare's emotional distress is explored through their unique portrayals. Kötting, donned in a straw bear get-up symbolizing alterity, surrenders to the harsh realities of the journey, subsisting on wild flora and resting on pebbly terrain, weary yet unyielding. The essence of the plot hinges on Clare's footfalls, tracing a path that carries the narrative forward. Within this journey, two asylum interludes offer a deeper, more intricate drama. The first, a chance encounter with gypsies at the forest periphery in High Beach; the second, a desperate struggle for direction amidst the enigmatic ancient trees, amplifying the feeling of being utterly lost. Adding a poignant depth to the tale is the venerable actor Freddie Jones, who, being Toby's real-life father, portrays an older, more disoriented Clare during his final incarceration in Northamptonshire, a time when his sense of self is all but faded away. "By Our Selves" is a complex exploration of identity, alienation, and the human spirit's resilience against all odds.

By Our Selves is a documentary movie featuring Toby Jones.

By Our Selves is currently streaming on DocAlliance Films.

It is also possible to buy By Our Selves on DocAlliance Films.