Adrienne is an Irish artist who has come to live in Venice after the breakup of her marriage. She meets Giorgio, a water-taxi driver who happens to be a former Irish Republican sniper. His death was faked during the "Troubles" to take the heat off him and he was given a new identity. He is now an embarrassment to former colleagues in government in Northern Ireland, as well as being a target for a drugs gang whose leader he had 'taken out' in his sniping days.

"Close Far Away" is based on an Irish language novel, "I gCongar I gCein" published by Clo Iar-Chonnacht.