Wish You Were Here (1987 film)

Wish You Were Here

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1987
Founder	David Leland
Products	Comedy-drama film
Parent	Zenith Entertainment, Working Title Films, Channel Four Films

Wish You Were Here is a 1987 British comedy-drama film crafted and helmed by David Leland, featuring performances by Emily Lloyd, Tom Bell, Geoffrey Hutchings, and Jesse Birdsall. The narrative centers on a young girl's transition to adulthood in postwar England and draws loose inspiration from the early years of British madam Cynthia Payne. The film’s musical score was composed by Stanley Myers.

This production was a collaboration between Zenith Entertainment, Working Title Films, and Channel Four Films, created with a budget of £1.2 million and achieving a box office return of $12 million. It garnered significant critical praise, securing the International Federation of Film Critics award at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, a BAFTA for Best Screenplay awarded to Leland, as well as the National Society of Film Critics’ Best Actress accolade bestowed upon Lloyd.

Plot

Set in the early 1950s, sixteen-year-old Lynda Mansell resides in a modest English coastal town alongside her widowed father Hubert and younger sister Margaret. Lynda’s bold and outspoken nature, combined with her crude language, distances her from both family and peers. Hubert, who runs a barber shop, attempts to place her in various jobs—including roles at a hair salon, bus station, and fish and chip van—but her behavior results in repeated dismissals. Despite Hubert’s efforts to improve their strained relationship through psychiatric intervention, tensions escalate. Flashbacks reveal Lynda’s affectionate connection with her deceased mother.

Lynda interacts with Brian, a boy she meets on the seafront, and Dave, a young bus conductor with whom she loses her virginity. Growing weary of Brian’s immaturity, she faces covert warnings from Hubert aimed at Dave. At the same time, Eric—a middle-aged illegal bookmaker known to Hubert—expresses interest in Lynda. She initially rebuffs Eric but eventually begins an intimate relationship with him as her bond with Hubert further deteriorates. Hubert voices his disappointment over Lynda’s decisions, invoking memories of her mother.

After leaving home to live with Eric, Lynda quickly discovers that their relationship lacks affection and is marked by exploitation, prompting her departure. She secures employment as a waitress in a tea room. Eric reappears professing regret but withdraws once Lynda reveals her pregnancy. Financial constraints prevent her from accessing an illegal abortion, leaving her with few alternatives.

Upon learning of Lynda’s condition, Hubert confronts her publicly at the tea room; their heated exchange culminates in Lynda denouncing him and being dismissed following a bold outburst addressing sex and societal double standards—an act that draws some applause.

In desperation, Lynda seeks guidance from Aunt Millie, who explains abortion and adoption options amid prevailing stigmas against unmarried mothers. Millie offers financial support for an abortion; however, when faced with the clinic entrance, Lynda hesitates after observing an elderly man accompanied by a child.

Ultimately, Lynda returns home by bus, pushing her baby in a pram past familiar landmarks such as the promenade and bowling green where Eric is seen playing. The story concludes with Lynda ringing Hubert’s doorbell and embracing her child.

Production

Director David Leland loosely based this film on the adolescence of Cynthia Payne along the Sussex coast. Prior to Wish You Were Here, Leland wrote Personal Services, which explores Payne's adult life experiences. Filming spanned six weeks across Sussex locations including Brighton, Worthing, and Bognor Regis. Notably, principal photography commenced on lead actress Emily Lloyd's 16th birthday.

Reception

Wish You Were Here has garnered an 85% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 33 critical reviews. Renowned critic Roger Ebert gave the film 3½ stars, describing it as "a comedy with an angry undertone" centered on a spirited young woman confronting societal sexism and norms. He lauded Lloyd's portrayal as "one of the most remarkable debut performances by a young actress." Janet Maslin from The New York Times emphasized Lloyd's depiction of Lynda’s emotional depth and powerful outbursts, highlighting her capacity to convey both strength and vulnerability.

Sheila Benson of the Los Angeles Times praised the film’s authentic period atmosphere and Leland’s deliberate direction, calling it "more than just the words on a souvenir postcard...a heartfelt expression." The movie achieved a global box office total of $12 million, which included £3 million from the UK market and $3.3 million in North America.

Awards and honors

Award	Category	Recipient	Outcome
Evening Standard British Film Awards	Best Actress	Emily Lloyd	Template:Won
National Society of Film Critics Awards			Template:Won
1987 Cannes Film Festival	International Federation of Film Critics prize		Template:Won
BAFTA Awards	Best Screenplay	David Leland	Template:Won
	Best Actress	Emily Lloyd	Template:Nom

See also

• Personal Services