Wuchak Released in 1983 and directed by Lewis Gilbert from Willy Russell's script, "Educating Rita" is a drama starring Julie Walters in the titular role as a spirited 26 year-old blue-collar woman from Liverpool, England, who wants to improve her life by enrolling in a special Open University class. She meets with her jaded tutor, Professor Frank (Michael Caine), once a week to study great literature. The morose Frank spends his days in a boozy haze and is intrigued by the outspoken Rita as the mentee lights a fire in the mentor that's been out for a long time. The plot was taken from George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" (1913), which was the basis for the 1956 Broadway play "My Fair Lady," which was in turn made into the famous 1964 movie of the same name. In Roman mythology Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with an ivory statue of a beautiful woman he had carved. That's fitting for "Educating Rita.I generally enjoyed this drama for several reasons. For instance, I appreciate the locations (Dublin, Ireland, standing in for Liverpool) and the theme: Rita's preconceptions that those in academia lead superior, happier lives are challenged by Frank's failing relationships and pathetic alcoholism, not to mention her cultured flat mate's struggles with severe depression(Maureen Lipman). Despite this, Rita seems to become a stronger person as she learns and adapts to academia.Unfortunately, the movie's lacking in some ways. For one, while Walters is fine in the eponymous role, she was 32 during filming and looked about 35 (her character is supposed to be 26 when introduced). More importantly, the drama just isn't that compelling. I suppose it doesn't help that the character arc of one of the main characters is unsatisfying, even frustrating, but I suppose it could be argued that that's just the way it is sometimes; and it is. ADDITIONAL CAST: Jeananne Crowley plays Frank's live-in non-lover, Professor Julia, while Michael Williams plays the dean of the university and Julia's secret lover, Brian. Malcolm Douglas appears as Rita's husband, Denny. The movie runs 110 minutes and was shot in Dublin, Ireland. GRADE: C+

treeline1 Rita White (Julie Walters) is a spunky, 26-year old working class woman who wants to improve her lot. She enrolls in a special Open University class and meets with her tutor, Frank (Michael Caine) once a week to study great literature. Frank, who spends his days in an alcoholic haze, is at first intrigued and later enthralled with the outspoken Rita.This is a wonderful showcase for the talented and adorable Julie Walters. She is dazzling and thoroughly likable and every word spoken in her thick Liverpool accent rings honest and true. Caine lets her shine by downplaying Frank, who is hopelessly morose and more than a bit lazy. Both were rightly nominated for best acting Oscars.The inevitable transformation/ improvement of both characters is sweet and uplifting without being overly-sentimental. Walters, best known these days as the matronly Mrs. Weasley in "Harry Potter," is so young and pretty and lights up the screen with her charisma. Recommended.

moonspinner55 British comedy-cum-character study with 'something meaningful to say'. Screenwriter Willy Russell adapted his stage play about a flighty hairdresser (Julie Walters) getting more than just an education from boozy, burnt-out professor Michael Caine--she learns to appreciate and nurture her own intellect. The pace is easy-going, with our heroine getting brighter with every misty montage, yet the process of teaching--or actually learning something through dedicated study--is not dramatized...it isn't even attempted. Russell brings the focus back to the growing mutual admiration between professor and student, and the classroom is ultimately just a backdrop, a ploy to bring these colorful characters closer. Performances are professional and solid, but the cloying scheme of this picture is sentiment-driven. ** from ****

Maddyclassicfilms Educating Rita is directed by Lewis Gilbert, is based on the play by Willy Russell and stars Michael Caine, Julie Walters, Michael Williams and Maureen Lipman.Rita(Julie Walters)is a young hairdresser who at the age of 26 is being pressured by her husband Denny and her family to have a baby.Rita however has other plans, she wants to find herself first and get educated.She signs up to an open university course at her local university, her tutor is the heavy drinking Dr Frank Bryant(Michael Caine).Bryant takes her on as his student and grudgingly begins to help her on her quest to change into an educated woman.The real heart and soul of Educating Rita is the relationship between Frank and Rita, beginning as part teacher and friend and turning into love for Frank, whereas Rita just considers him her mentor and the one person in her life who she can really talk to and get to understand her.It would be fair to consider this the My Fair Lady of the eighties. Towards the end as in My Fair Lady Frank can see his Rita slipping away from him and changing so much he can not seem to reach her anymore. When the things she is learning transform her into a stranger to him.At times painful and at other times very funny this is a wonderful film and Michael and Julie both give superb performances.