Do You Mind Can I Ask What Happened (To Your Legs?)

'Do you mind can I ask happened (to your legs?)' is a semi-narrative moving image work that reflects on what it’s like to experience having a progressive degenerative condition and is the late Simon Fildes' most tender and compelling work. The film is a love story with a twist, set in the beautiful landscape surrounding the Scottish highland Village of Achiltibuie. Part drama, part screendance, the film draws upon the filmmakers’ deep rooted passion for movement both physically and in-camera.

SYNOPSIS:
A 30 something couple ‘Cole' and ‘Annie’ on an idyllic getaway road trip. Towing a small caravan they explore the rural backroads. Unhurried and with no particular destination in mind. They have a perfect relationship. They have a dog, a designer styled vintage trailer, a comfortable car and great weather. The landscape rolls by, small towns and big skies. Stops for fuel and coffee at local shops break the journey. Music plays on the sound system, a diverse mix of folksy chill and some techno electronica. Minor disagreements about map reading, where to stop for the night and music tastes are dealt with in good humour. They swap roles driving and watching and dozing. The vibe is chill, loving and happy. We see them dance having fun enjoying life. They pull up at a remote roadside lay-by to set up for the night and cook dinner. The man gets out of the car and detaches the caravan to set it up on its stands. Slowly admiring the fading warm glow of late afternoon sun he carefully levels the wheels and winds the trailer ‘jockey wheel’ down. He gives the signal to his partner to pull the car forward. To his uncomprehending surprise the car drives off away down the road. The dog’s head looking back out of the side window ears flapping. Not knowing what to do next he sets up a seat by the caravan door, sits down and waits. No phone and in a remote spot with no traffic Cole watches the sun go down still expecting their partner to return. He fiddles with things in the caravan. Displacement actions. A car passes but he misses the chance to flag it down. Some food is prepared and eaten with little enthusiasm.
It gets dark. He looks in hatches and cupboards. Finds a pile of CD's There is an old portable CD player in the caravan. After some uncertainty about what to choose, their favourite rave trance techno track is selected. Cole starts to move and remembers past times dancing. The camera and dancer start a choreographed duet. The movement is expressive and rhythmical. Club dance meets contemporary. It’s like a party starts in the caravan and it’s filled with people having the time of their lives. The energy builds. We don’t know if the party is in the caravan or in a club but the caravan starts to rock and bounce. We see the wheels moving and the chassis bouncing. Arms waving, heads rocking. The bass is heavy. The “jockey wheel” starts to move and loosen. Still the party goes on. A truck passes by at speed and the jockey wheel comes off its wedge and the caravan tips on to the tow bar. It comes to rest leaning at a precarious angle. The music stops. For a moment there is complete silence... The sounds of a still night... We see the scene from a distance..... Then the faint build up of the sound track as it kicks back in and the party starts again. The dance silhouetted in the windows. Credits appear as the music and the party continues.