Memorable and sentimental "women's picture" adapted by Edna O'Brien from her own novel. Filmed in and around Dublin, GIRL WITH GREEN EYES tells the story of a young woman, Rita Tushingham, who leaves her father's barren farm in County Clare to come to Dublin where she gets a job in a
grocery and shares a flat with Redgrave, an old pal from Catholic school. She meets Finch, a divorced writer many years older than she. She pursues him, they become friends, and she moves into his home.
Despite their propinquity and the underlying attraction, she remains chaste due to a combination of youth, shyness and her religious upbringing. When her father, O'Sullivan, learns that she's living with a man, he forces her to return home. Her priest, McKenna, rebukes her for her lax behavior,
and she leaves home again and goes to Finch's place. She's tailed by O'Sullivan and a horde of his besotted buddies. They break into Finch's house, only to flee when Finch points his aged shotgun at them. Tushingham finally relents and sleeps with Finch.
Originally titled "Once Upon A Summer," the film featured several of the best Irish actors. All the roles were well played, and the dialogue smacked of Irish reality, though occasionally it is a trifle stilted for the American ear. There is lots to recommend this film, including first-time
direction by Desmond Davis and the debut photography of Manny Wynn. Turner, Finch's real-life wife, does an excellent cameo as a bitch. It was Redgrave's second film for Richardson, the first having been TOM JONES. Lovingly made, it's a fine introduction to the Ireland of lyrical romance, rather
than the strife-torn area we see so often. leave a comment