Cinema
Sunday Bloody Sunday
John Schlesinger · 1971
Synopsis
London. Daniel Hirsh, a middle-aged Jewish doctor, and Alex Greville, a divorcée of about thirty-five who helps laid-off executives find work again, love the same young man, Bob Elkin, an artist who makes glass fountains. Each knows of the other's existence. Both, without knowing it, use the same telephone answering service and wait there for his calls. One weekend, Alex and Bob look after the five children of a couple of friends.
Context
The screenplay is by Penelope Gilliatt, a film critic, for whom it was her only feature-film screenplay, with an uncredited rewrite by David Sherwin; the director regarded the film as the most personal of his works. Glenda Jackson was cast after he had seen her in another English film in this catalogue; the role had first been intended for Vanessa Redgrave. The first actor to play the doctor, Ian Bannen, left the film shortly after shooting began: the press of the time spoke of pneumonia, later accounts of anxiety over the kissing scene; Peter Finch replaced him. The film was released four years after the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England.
Who it is for
One hundred and ten minutes, in English with subtitles; the story follows the doctor and the young woman in parallel over a few days.
Prizes and reception
Four Oscar nominations; five British Academy awards, including best film; Golden Globe for best foreign film.
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