The film that all but ended Lean’s career, Ryan’s Daughter, filmed mostly on Kerry’s Dingle Peninsula, is set in the aftermath of the 1916 Easter Rising. Rosy (Sarah Miles) lives a life of quiet boredom with husband Charles (Robert Mitchum). Major Doryan (Christopher Jones) arrives to take control of the local garrison, having returned from the front with PTSD. The two begin an affair, which is discovered first by Charles, then by the larger community, making a pariah of her and endangering her life. The film’s unfairly harsh reception was taken extremely personally by Lean, leading to his extended hiatus.

The 70mm print of Ryan’s Daughter was sourced from the Swedish Film Institute, and consequently will screen with Swedish subtitles.  No other 70mm prints were available for this screening.  

Notes by Kevin Coyne.

Screening as part of The Films of David Lean season.