This is a beautiful film, directed by Sharon Sheehan who is one of the best directors I have worked with. Getting any film made these days is a mammoth task. And the work of talented women directors is always worth supporting. Sheehan wrote a wonderful script as well as directing and playing the title character. She did all three tasks with great applomb. Such stunning cinematography all on film, shot entirely on location in Lyme Regis and along the Jurassic coast of Dorset where the events occurred, is normally only to be found in much higher budget productions. But this is a micro budget Indie film of real integrity and great beauty. It tells the story with much more authenticity than the recent big budget Hollywood film on the same subject. Sheehan has assembled a cast of quality and Jenny Agutter shines with a luminous energy as a force for moral good among the venal snobbery amd self interest of a male dominated field, even now. But back then for a working class autodidact woman to achieve what she did is well worth honouring. Very Good performances from Sheehan herself, Hamilton, Storrier, Oliver, Jackie Howe ( in a wonderful and poignant last performance) Arundel et al. I saw the first public screening and The audience response was very good. The film has a meditative pace which really draws you in with beautiful, lingering shots. Scenes have time to develop. No. There are no car chases. Yes. Shots last longer than a few seconds. No explicit sex or physical violence, or cheap bells and whistles. Just a very moving and intelligent piece of film making which treats the audience as intelligent grown ups. This is well worth seeing for anyone interested in Cinema itself and the inspirational story of an outsider battling against all the odds. A final mention must go to the haunting, minimalist score by Einaudi. To secure the services of such a world famous artist is a major coup for Sheehan and her team. Bravi to all concerned!
