I'll zero in on the heart of this largely unknown film: it's Maggie Smith's searing portrayal of the title character, a brave but broken woman yearning for the impossible: a knight in shining armor to help her salvage some meaning from life. Her 50's Irish Catholicism isn't doing the trick.
There's a scene, devastating to watch, when a desperate and drunken Judith Hearne pleads to enter the holy place where Christ lives - "Let me in, please," she cries "I want to be with you!" - because she's built her entire life on this illusion; there is no white knight, only a dumpy hustler from New York (Hoskins) - and Blanche-like, Judith Hearne dwells in impossible possibilities. Every time I see this scene, I'm struck with the notion that this may rank among the finest moments in acting any of us will ever behold.
This is ensemble acting at its finest, too. Perfect soundtrack, and the authenticity of 50's Dublin seems spot-on. Catch it when it comes, find it if you can at some artsy video shop - but for certain souls, here lies in wait a treasure.
There's a scene, devastating to watch, when a desperate and drunken Judith Hearne pleads to enter the holy place where Christ lives - "Let me in, please," she cries "I want to be with you!" - because she's built her entire life on this illusion; there is no white knight, only a dumpy hustler from New York (Hoskins) - and Blanche-like, Judith Hearne dwells in impossible possibilities. Every time I see this scene, I'm struck with the notion that this may rank among the finest moments in acting any of us will ever behold.
This is ensemble acting at its finest, too. Perfect soundtrack, and the authenticity of 50's Dublin seems spot-on. Catch it when it comes, find it if you can at some artsy video shop - but for certain souls, here lies in wait a treasure.