I have not read the book, but for my money the film did this pretty well, producing plenty of good dialogue that meant the film was more about the character of Joe than it was about Jed. Instead the story mixes it with Joe's own sanity crumbling at the same time as Claire's 'enduring love' for him is put to the test.

I use the last description with reservations because I don't think this is comparable to Fatal Attraction because this has so much more to it than just the bunny boiler stuff. With the accident (that is frighteningly convincing) the seeds are sown for a film that is about love, mental health and about a sort of Fatal Attraction vibe. When I went to see this film I had no idea whatsoever what it was about and the first four minutes of the film had as much of an impact on me as I'm told the start of the book did. As Jed continues to get close, Joe appears to be coming apart, putting a great deal of strain on his relationship with Claire. This obsession is fed when he begins being stalked by one of the men who was also involved in the accident Jed, who appears to believe that Joe and him are close and belong together as a result of what they shared. Joe seems to get over it but he does obsess over whether or not he could have done more. Jed feels an instant connection with Joe-one that, as the weeks go by, becomes ever more intense.Out in the country for a nice picnic, Joe and Claire get involved in a ballooning accident that leads to the death of one of the men who came to help. Going to retrieve the body of the fallen man with fellow rescuer Jed Parry, for example, turns out to be a very bad move. But fate has far more unpleasant things in store for Joe. Ironically the balloon eventually lands safely, the boy unscathed.

Recalling the day's events at dinner with his friends Robin and Rachel, Joe reveals the impact the accident has had on his battered psyche. As Joe, Claire and the other rescuers watch this strangely beautiful sight, they see the man fall to his death. Joe manages to drop to the ground, as do most of his companions, but one man is lifted skywards. Just as they secure the balloon, the wind rushes into the field, and at once the rescuers are airborne. Joe and three other men rush to secure the basket. The pilot catches his leg in the anchor rope, while the only passenger, a boy, is too scared to jump down. A hot air balloon drifts into the field, obviously in trouble. But as Joe and Claire prepare to open a bottle of champagne, their idyll comes to an abrupt end. Joe has planned a postcard-perfect afternoon in the English countryside with his partner, Claire. On a beautiful cloudless day a young couple celebrate their reunion with a picnic.

Enduring love hot air balloon