ksf-2
The very first thing that Emily Lloyd ever did, back in 1987. She is "Lynda"... a youngster and her trials and tribulations in old England. She keeps losing jobs and can't seem to make friends. I'm guessing she would be diagnosed with attention deficit disorder in more modern times, but this was "back in the 1950s", and they didn't really know what to do with her then. She can't seem to get enough, sexually, and defies her dis-approving father. Kind of slow moving, but an interesting period piece from post WW II England. Needed some spiffing up... maybe a stronger script, or maybe some big names in the cast. Everyone gives a fine performance... its just a bit flat and slow. Written and directed by David Leland. Not much info available on him. Lots of "Lelands" in the cast list, so I'm guessing he used family members in his films. An okay way to spend an hour and a half. Some funny bits. (Lynda does an "Up Ya Bum" dance.) Some sad bits. Some plain ol every-day living bits.
SnoopyStyle
Lynda Mansell (Emily Lloyd) is a brash rebellious teenager in a staid post-war English seaside town. She is crude, flirtatious and loves to insult with "Up your bum". She has wild mood swings and constantly gets fired from her jobs. She gets sent to a psychiatrist. She has flings. Her father's bookie pushes his way into her life and she joins in an affair that results in a pregnancy.Emily Lloyd is fantastic. As a drama, the movie needs more tension. She could be challenged by a wife. Or else, she has to have something that could be lost by her behavior. None of the guys are worth a dime. By the movie's own account, it's inevitable that she would separate from her father. If there are no stakes, there is no danger. As a comedy, it has one extremely funny sequence. It's hilarious when she gets fired. The movie needs a few more comedic sequences like that. She needs a partner to play the comedy off of. Emily Lloyd is great but she's alone too much.
Woodyanders
Sassy and defiant 16-year-old nonconformist Lynda Mansell (a wonderfully brash and vibrant performance by the adorable Emily Lloyd) lives her life defying the norm and gleefully shocking the uptight locals in the staid seaside hamlet she resides in. Her long-suffering conservative father Hubert (well played by Geoffrey Hutchings) disapproves of Emily's outrageous antics. Moreover, Emily is forced to deal with the potentially harmful consequences of her mischievous behavior after she's impregnated by seedy older fellow oddball Eric (a superbly intense portrayal by Tom Bell). Writer/director David Leland expertly crafts a perfectly pitched blend of touching drama and uproariously brazen comedy that benefits tremendously from a flavorsome evocation of the 1950's period setting, an equally astute depiction of the repressive mores of said stuffy era, and a wealth of hilariously racy lines ("Up your bum!"). Moreover, Leland wisely keeps mawkish sentiment at bay and refuses to pass judgment on any of the characters. Best of all, the radiant and appealing Lloyd simply shines as lovable free spirit Lynda, whose tart veneer masks a scared inner vulnerability and rebellious nature stems from the death of her mother when she was eleven as well as a fierce disdain of the status quo and a deep-seated need to assert one's own individuality in a drab world of stifling conformity. Kudos are also in order for Ian Wilson's postcard pretty cinematography and Stanley Myers' stately score. A lovely, moving, and frequently funny gem.
laura_macleod
Emily Lloyd.....well whatever happened to the beautiful and talented actress Emily Lloyd, she left us with some precious films and one of them is 'Wish you were Here'. This is probably a story that was quite indicative of the social and cultural values of that time in 1950's working class Britain; it is not that long ago, but it seems like another historical epoch in terms of how people conducted themselves. The young woman that Emily Lloyd portrays is an individualistic young girl, full of dreams and she is absolutely bored with the stifling values and lifestyle around her young spirit. Curious about sex and relationships, still in trauma from the death of her mother; the tale that unfolds is heartwarming, sad, funny and poignant. This film goes into the category of one of my favourite films of all time, not least because I am very familiar with this kind of backdrop of culture and location by the Sussex seaside - but whoever you are and from wherever you come from; you will be uplifted and surprised by this amazingly wonderful film of life and a young girl's journey into womanhood. Furthermore, some of these great actors are not with us anymore and this film is a testimony to their acting abilities and the times from which they lived in. This is a Britain that is also no longer with us and therefore on a nostalgic basis, Wish you were Here is important as a historical narrative to a British way of life that has practically disappeared for better or worse.
AD
