THE COUNTRY GIRLS
UK, 1983, 102 minutes, Colour.
Sam Neill, Maeve Germaine, Jill Doyle.
Directed by Desmond Davis.
The Country Girls is based on a novel by Edna O'Brien, who wrote the screenplay for the film. Twenty years earlier, she had written a similar story with The Girl With Green Eyes (starring Lynn Redgrave and Rita Tushingham). The film was directed by Desmond Davis, who also directs this film.
The film is a memoir of Ireland in the '50s, especially in the experience of two young teenagers who move from the country, to Dublin, to London. It is also an experience of restriction, breaking out of the strong Irish ethos, as well as disillusionment. Sam Neill as Mr Gentleman plays the romantic-looking cad who takes advantage of the heroine.
The film shows Ireland in the time - with more than a touch of the stereotype and the caricature. However, the vitality of the two young stars is infectious and carries the film along.
1.The work of Edna O'Brien, her perspective on Ireland, on Irish women, on education, the church? Her literary status?
2.The visual impact of Ireland, the countryside, the small towns, Dublin? The range of scenery and locations? The musical score?
3.The re-creation of Ireland in the '50s, the farm, school, Dublin?
4.The title and the focus on the girls, their friendship, age, complementarity? The opening and their game? The bonds between them? Life and lifestyle, at home, the different classes, wealth? At the local school, going to the college? Their school experience, learning, breaking out? Their relationship with their parents? The question of the scholarship and Kate getting the scholarship and Bubba having to pay.
5.The presentation of the school, the familiar picture of a restrictive regime, the nuns and their severity, harshness, discipline, silence, the meals, classes? Authoritarian attitudes? The reaction of the girl, drinking, the altar wine, the holy card and the writing? The discipline and the breaking out of wild spirits? Expulsion?
6.The portrait of home life: Kate's father, relationship with his wife, drinking, collapse, the farm going to rack and ruin, his reactions against his daughter? The mother, her absence, the accidental death? The friendship of the young farmer, genial, his support? The owner of the pub, his devotion to Kate's mother, his helping her, sympathy? The collapse of life at home for Kate?
7.The contrast with Bubba and her wealthy family, education and style? Their lavishing attention on Bubba? The holidays and Kate being welcomed?
8.Mr Gentleman and his appearance and style, attractive, the different reactions of Kate and Bubba? The friendship, the outings, the correspondence? Kate being found out, the disgrace, the expulsion, her father's reaction, the owner of the pub? Mr Gentleman's background, family life? His attention to Kate, love? Going to Dublin, his practice, visiting Kate in the shop? Their relationship? Affair? His promises, failure to keep the promises - the romantic cad?
9.Kate and Bubba going to Dublin, the excitement, the train, high-spirited? Kate and the shop, the apron, her job? Life out in Dublin - especially with Bubba's lead? Meeting the men in the pub, the types, Kate's quiet reaction? The contrast with Bubba? The effect of Dublin on each of them? Bubba's pregnancy?
10.The decision to go to London, the experience of disillusionment, hopes? The false pregnancy? Kate and her having to start again in relationships? A portrait of young girls growing from naivety to experience? From country to city-wise? In the period? From the perspective of the '80s?
