Josh Appignanesi and Devorah Baum in Husband

HUSBAND
Directed by Josh Appignanesi
Certificate: 12a
☆☆☆☆

THERE is something cringingly navel gazing about this odd documentary about the writer Devorah Baum and her husband, the film-maker Josh Appignanesi.

This is a real-life comedy about the pair heading to New York to promote her new book – and the power play that flows between them.

“This is a wonderful place,” says Dev to her husband.

“But not you. You are a nightmare.” Indeed he is, but it takes one to know one.

We are given a ringside seat to Dev’s deep need to be told she is amazing, and Josh, who cannot help but offer a stream of cluttered thoughts.

If the to-ing and fro-ing between the pair is not staged, then they should run in different directions, as it feels they do not like each other’s company very much. If it is staged, they are creating a hilariously disjointed image of a modern, want-for-nothing family.

Listening to them both wail about success and how hard it is, and how they want to make a film about doing book launches and book parties, is hilarious and awful.

They head from one swanky event to the next, bicker constantly, have unsubstantiated concerns over how they appear to others, and then bicker more.

But at the heart of the arguing, you can tell this couple love each other immensely, and while they may make you want to reach for the sick bucket, it makes for good film.

The pair play roles: him the loveable, cuddly, caring but dysfunctional male; her the exasperated, successful, talented, beautiful but insecure woman.

Some parts are very funny indeed, while other moments show a neurosis and self-consciousness that puts the couple very high up on the list of people you would not want to be stuck in a lift with.

How much of this is staged? The intellectual roller coaster is edited to create an overall picture that feels unreal and having a ringside seat to this relationship is full-on, deep-level cringe.