IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
In a staid English seaside town after the Second World War, young Lynda grows up with her widowed father and younger sister. She eventually becomes pregnant by an acquaintance of her father.In a staid English seaside town after the Second World War, young Lynda grows up with her widowed father and younger sister. She eventually becomes pregnant by an acquaintance of her father.In a staid English seaside town after the Second World War, young Lynda grows up with her widowed father and younger sister. She eventually becomes pregnant by an acquaintance of her father.
- Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 6 wins & 4 nominations total
Susan Valentine
- Lynda's Mother
- (as Susan Skipper)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJust like Personal Services (1987), the previous movie from writer David Leland, this project was inspired by the real-life figure, Cynthia Payne. This movie focuses on her childhood growing up in Sussex while the other deals with her adulthood.
- GoofsThe U.S. flag on the bandstand during the dance has fifty stars. The U.S. flag in 1951 had only 48 stars.
- Quotes
Lynda Mansell: Up your bum!
- SoundtracksThe Robin's Return
(1898) (uncredited)
Music by Leander Fisher
Featured review
A girl with more vivacity than her society can contain
This film is loosely based on the early life of Cynthia Payne, an infamous British prostitute and madam who has been the subject of other films. It was the debut for British actress Emily Lloyd, who played Linda aka Cynthia Payne. The film follows Linda's sexual awakening with flash backs to her younger childhood.
Linda is an unhappy child whose mother died when she was young and her father, raising her and her sister as a lone parent, struggles to manage her as she reaches adolescence. Her burgeoning sexuality is ill-fitting with the social mores of the seaside community in which she lives. Her sexual curiosity is innocent and defiant. This makes for much hilarity: in one scene she is taken to see a psychiatrist who asks her what rude words she knows in order to assess her sexual precociousness. Linda is well aware of the psychiatrist's intention and leads him a merry dance. In another she shows her legs and some of her underwear to fellow colleagues in a bus station. Yet there are times during her sexual development that are mundane and also sad. It is apparent that what Linda most wants is love and in particular is needy for love from her father, in the absence of her mother, but he never understands her enough to realise this.
The ending of the film, which I won't share in the review, is typical of Linda's character. She strides with pride and passion across a park and golfing course, yet she is young and vulnerable and somewhat foolhardy. The viewer admires her resolve, her fortitude and fears for her future.
The performances of all are superb. Emily Lloyd and Tom Bell deserve special mention. The plot is simple and effective and the characterisations credible. Although it is set in an England that has passed, the themes and meaning remain relevant for today's young women.
Linda is an unhappy child whose mother died when she was young and her father, raising her and her sister as a lone parent, struggles to manage her as she reaches adolescence. Her burgeoning sexuality is ill-fitting with the social mores of the seaside community in which she lives. Her sexual curiosity is innocent and defiant. This makes for much hilarity: in one scene she is taken to see a psychiatrist who asks her what rude words she knows in order to assess her sexual precociousness. Linda is well aware of the psychiatrist's intention and leads him a merry dance. In another she shows her legs and some of her underwear to fellow colleagues in a bus station. Yet there are times during her sexual development that are mundane and also sad. It is apparent that what Linda most wants is love and in particular is needy for love from her father, in the absence of her mother, but he never understands her enough to realise this.
The ending of the film, which I won't share in the review, is typical of Linda's character. She strides with pride and passion across a park and golfing course, yet she is young and vulnerable and somewhat foolhardy. The viewer admires her resolve, her fortitude and fears for her future.
The performances of all are superb. Emily Lloyd and Tom Bell deserve special mention. The plot is simple and effective and the characterisations credible. Although it is set in an England that has passed, the themes and meaning remain relevant for today's young women.
helpful•194
- PoppyTransfusion
- Jun 19, 2011
- How long is Wish You Were Here?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Wish You Were Here!
- Filming locations
- Dome Cinema, Marine Parade, Worthing, West Sussex, England, UK(Lynda goes to live with Eric at the Dome Cinema)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,283,832
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $43,611
- Jul 26, 1987
- Gross worldwide
- $3,283,832
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
![Emily Lloyd in Wish You Were Here (1987)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMDk4OWFkOTMtNGJiMS00ODRkLTg2MTAtMGM5YTU4YjAzNTliXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTAwMzUyOTc@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,0,90,133_.jpg)