Been So Long (film)

Set in London’s multicultural Camden Town, Simone is a single parent caring for her daughter. Both smart and self-sufficient, she is focused at her hair salon job, and prioritises her daughter above all else. Simone is mostly content, albeit a little unfulfilled. Best friend Yvonne believes Simone needs more of a life. As she has not dated for a long time, she insists they go out drinking to meet men. In fact, Yvonne badly needs a wing-woman to help her find one. With Simone’s mother childminding, they head out to Camden, ending up at their old haunt Bar Arizona, now run by the late owner’s son Barney. When Simone meets Raymond, a recent ex-con now working as a street-cleaner, the two flirt over a game of draughts, and she suddenly wakens from her sexless stupor. The encounter proves to be fruitless for them both – but the seed has been planted. In a combination of serendipity and mutual infatuation, a romance slowly blooms. They kiss then become more intimate, While Simone and Raymond have their ups and downs, Yvonne connects with a courier who regularly delivers to her office job. She also helps Simone out with childcare. One day, outside Simone’s daughter's school, her ex Kestrel appears. A reminder of Simone’s pain, he re-enters her life to get to know the daughter. This threatens not only Simone’s relationship with Raymond, but also her friendship with Yvonne. Her trust issues isolate her, and instead of rejoicing in her new-found love, she ends up fearful, so has to learn again to let people in. Raymond also has his demons, including his old friend Wendell, a new-dad, and Gil, a young, troubled and wild knife-wielding young man who is stalking him. Raymond struggles in his own way. A duet between Simone and Raymond – in a kebab shop – binds their romance, alongside other Londoners. ==Cast==