ComedyDramaRomance

Wish You Were Here

- Some people march to the beat of a different drummer. Lynda’s got her own brass band.

In a staid English seaside town after the Second World War, young Lynda grows up with her widowed father and younger sister. Rebellious Lynda has been swearing constantly from an early age. At sixteen, she becomes more exhibitionist and seeks out sexual encounters challenging the prevailing lower-middle class attitudes to sex. She eventually becomes pregnant by an acquaintance of her father.

Release Date : 1987-07-24

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Working Title FilmsZenith EntertainmentFilm4 Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Lynda Mansell

Original Name : Emily Lloyd

Gender : Female

Character Name : Eric

Original Name : Tom Bell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dave

Original Name : Jesse Birdsall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Parfitt

Original Name : Clare Clifford

Gender : Female

Character Name : Joan Figgis

Original Name : Sheila Kelley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tap Dancing Lady

Original Name : Trudi Cavanagh

Gender : Male

Character Name : Valerie

Original Name : Barbara Durkin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hubert Mansell

Original Name : Geoffrey Hutchings

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gillian

Original Name : Charlotte Barker

Gender : Female

Character Name : Margaret

Original Name : Chloe Leland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Aunt Millie

Original Name : Pat Heywood

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lynda Mansell (aged 11)

Original Name : Charlotte Ball

Gender : Male

Character Name : Margaret (aged 7)

Original Name : Abigail Leland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lynda’s Mother

Original Name : Susan Skipper

Gender : Female

Character Name : Harry Figgis

Original Name : Geoffrey Durham

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cinema Manager

Original Name : Neville Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Brian

Original Name : Lee Whitlock

Gender : Male

Character Name : Passenger with Brolly

Original Name : Frederick Hall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mental Patient

Original Name : Bob Flag

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr Holroyd

Original Name : Bob Flag

Gender : Male

Character Name : Uncle Brian

Original Name : William Lawford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs Hartley

Original Name : Pamela Duncan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Fish and Chip Shop Van Customer

Original Name : Pamela Duncan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : David Hatton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maisie Mathews

Original Name : Ben Daniels

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vickie

Original Name : Kim McDermott

Gender : Male

Character Name : Café Manager

Original Name : Barrie Houghton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cook

Original Name : Jim Dowdall

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Baby

Original Name : Dani Phelps

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lady with Hurt Knee

Original Name : Marjorie Sudell

Gender : Female

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2024-09-20

**_Emily Lloyd coming-of-age in early 50’s Britain_** A precocious teen in a seaside town of southern England becomes aware of her power over males while flouting conventions, which doesn’t help her relationship with her rigid father (Geoffrey Hutchings) and keeps getting her in trouble, which she finds amusing. "Wish You Were Here" (1987) is a period piece and coming-of-age flick. It’s been listed as a comedy, but it’s not. It’s a drama with humorous touches counterbalanced by the hard facts of life. The meshing of lighthearted bits with sober elements is interesting and true-to-life. Emily was only 16 years-old during shooting while one of the guys she is drawn to, Tom Bell (Eric), was 53. It’s no surprise that she’s drawn to someone her dad’s age because she’s desperately seeking a father’s love, despite her outward spunk. I don’t take the movie as supporting any particular issue, but rather as a character study of a certain type of person, in this case a female. It’s also a commentary on society’s curious mores at that particular time and place. What’s an individualistic person to do, especially when s/he sees glaring hypocrisies and injustices? Don’t despise the girl for the questionable things she does. Remember, she’s only like 16-17. We’ve all done rash, foolish or disrespectful things in our teens. Then we grew up. I’m pretty sure that Lynda will be growing up real quick by the end of the film. The title seems odd and probably kept it from greater success. It refers to the protagonist missing her mother, who died when she was 11. She was close to her mom, but obviously not her dad. It runs 1 hour, 28 minutes, and was shot in Worthing and nearby Bognor Regis (to the west), which are about an 85-minute drive due south of London. GRADE: B-