Review of Ryan's Daughter (1970) by Chris W — 23 Nov 2007

Ryan's Daughter is by no means a perfect movie. However, the flaws are overshadowed by the other moments of brilliance. Visually, the film is a feast, and the photography gives a feeling of universality to a story ofa love triangle: the beauty and isolation of a village in western Ireland some 90 years ago; a beautiful, intelligent young woman stuck there, and seeking out perhaps the only decent available man in the village.

In ways, her lack of fulfillment (before and after the marriage) is elevated by the beauty and pace of the film into a more universal statement of our disappointments. The flaws (Christopher Jones, flabby editing) make me appreciate Lean's brilliance and some of the other performances.