Screenwriter Peter Nichols, adapting his play, deals with the timeless subject of how humans--as married people and parents--deal with the difficulties of raising a handicapped child. Alan Bates and Janet Suzman are marvelous as the joshing twosome in Bristol who appear to be on the same page when it comes to spastic daughter Jo, who can't walk or talk in her semi-vegetative state. But, as Nichols takes us back into the couple's past, we see that husband Bates never held out much hope that Jo would get any better, while his spouse--realistic and yet optimistic--clings to the belief that one day there will be signs of life (and that it is her duty to keep this belief alive). Although marvelously literate and well-acted, the film rarely escapes its stage origins; director Peter Medak is occasionally nimble, but he doesn't do a warm-up on this scenario for our benefit, and the downbeat nature of the film's theme coupled with the gloomy look can be wearing. Cinematographer Ken Hodges does capture some great, moody scenes (especially Bates' flight-of-fancy on the beach when first discovering his baby daughter might be seriously troubled). However, the second-act conversation with visiting friends discussing the merits of putting the child into a nursing home isn't as pointed as it should be (and as it needs to be, since it mirrors the dialogue in the final scenes). The heady climax really needs to be seen twice, as the tone suddenly shifts into extremely personal drama--and one is caught unprepared for its impact. Certainly worthwhile for patient viewers willing to let this story unfold. It's a thought-provoking piece wherein tough decisions have to be made, but I only wish we were more emotionally invested in the main characters. The leads do superlative work, yet the flashbacks, monologues and hearty ribbing don't reveal as much as one might hope. **1/2 from ****
