The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne

R

Released Dec 23, 1987

1 hr. 56 min.

Drama

List

100%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

77%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Lonely spinster Judith Hearne (Maggie Smith) teaches piano and lives in a depressing boarding house in Dublin. Her life changes when she meets James Madden (Bob Hoskins), the enterprising brother of the owner. She quickly falls for him and, against all expectation, finds her love returned. As their romance develops, Judith becomes truly happy for the first time in her life. But, when it dawns on her that James has ulterior motives for pursuing their relationship, her world comes crashing down.

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Audience Member

By Brian Moore, not William Trevor. Sorry.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A powerful film although I do not agree with the conclusion drawn by Judith Hearne in the final scene.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A little known gem with another amazing performance from Maggie Smith. 1930's Dublin is faithfully recreated in a film full of tragedy, some laughter and ultimately optimism.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A period piece yes but at least a period piece that is interesting to view. Isn't it the same old story? The spinster who's life is put into question with the introduction of a suitor? Of course the suitor isn't all that he is cracked up to be and drama unfolds.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An ensemble of sterling performances highlights The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, an intelligent, carefully crafted adaptation of Brian Moore's novel.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I adore this flim about alcoholism.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Jack Clayton

Director

Maggie Smith

Judith Hearne

Bob Hoskins

James Madden

Wendy Hiller

Aunt D'Arcy

Marie Kean

Mrs. Rice

Ian McNeice

Bernard Rice

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

Maggie Smith lets you read every shade of feeling in Judith Hearne’s face.

Sep 15, 2023

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

An ensemble of sterling performances highlights The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, an intelligent, carefully crafted adaptation of Brian Moore’s well-regarded first novel.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

What you remember are not his images, but the performances, intermingled with screenwriter Peter Nelson's world of dire, almost comical loneliness (adapted from Brian Moore's novel).

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 4/5

Jun 25, 2005

Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

Top-drawer screen interpretation of Brian Moore's 1955 novel about the spiritual crisis of a middle-aged woman.

Jul 19, 2003

Full Review

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Synopsis

Lonely spinster Judith Hearne (Maggie Smith) teaches piano and lives in a depressing boarding house in Dublin. Her life changes when she meets James Madden (Bob Hoskins), the enterprising brother of the owner. She quickly falls for him and, against all expectation, finds her love returned. As their romance develops, Judith becomes truly happy for the first time in her life. But, when it dawns on her that James has ulterior motives for pursuing their relationship, her world comes crashing down.

Director: Jack Clayton
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 23, 1987, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $82.7K