The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne Reviews

In this moving film based on the novel by Moore, Smith plays a lonely, aging Irish spinster whose occasional bouts with the bottle lead her from boardinghouse to boardinghouse. At one such residence, she meets Hoskins, who is middle-aged, single, and--in Judith's eyes--worldly and sophisticated. Her pursuit of him, however, proves to have devastating consequences. Bleak and disquieting, THE LONELY PASSION OF JUDITH HEARNE is nevertheless a finely acted, gripping film. Smith, the epitome of British propriety, is just about perfect as the abandoned woman, and Hoskins is just as effective as the sleazy, alienated loser. The pace may be slow, but the film is both disturbing and thought provoking.