User reviews

David Leland's companion piece to 'Personal Services' (also 1987) is another dramatized fiction suggested by the life of Cynthia Payne (London's notorious 'Luncheon Voucher Madam'), only here the canvas is smaller and the film, as a result, is less effective. A 'prequel' to the earlier feature, it relives the rebellious teenage years of the sassy young Ms. Payne (the names have again been changed) as she flies in the face of her stodgy English upbringing with a rousing rejoinder of "up yer bum!" Growing up too fast in a very slow corner of the Empire, she struggles through that awkward age when her cynicism about sex hasn't caught up with her curiosity about it, leading to a good deal of engaging if familiar adolescent angst, reinforced by a bland seaside setting viewed through nostalgia. The film succeeds mostly on the charm of young Emily Lloyd, portraying a character who can't decide if hers is a child's mind in an adult's body, or the other way around. Boredom motivates her rude behavior, and it's a pity the film itself didn't follow her good example. After making its point (and making it well), the story can't help losing a little momentum.

Like most of the above reviewers say, this movie is a good film for a laugh and plenty of outrageous behaviour from the protagonist, Lynda. A terrific reproduction of 50s Britain - right down to the dressing gown patterns and minor consumer products. But what is it she really wants and what does she learn from her foolish behaviour? 'Nothing' seems to be the answer. And this 'nothing' seems to be the major theme. It is a film about folly.

In many ways Lynda's path is boringly predictable: She has no understanding of the man who manipulates her, nor of the future consequences of her rudeness and impulsive behaviour. One wonders what amount of social realism is represented here for an unmarried mother of the period. Poorly paid jobs, lack of support, a low income to further disable somebody with little patience and understanding of the situation she has largely created for herself. A fun attitude, temporary prettiness and her fast-disappearing youth will not go that far.

With another actress in the lead, this film could have been another entry in the long, venerable line of British films about the misery of working-class life, a genre that stretches from "kitchen sink" classics like "Room at the Top" and "A Taste of Honey" (wonderfully ironic titles, of course) to such Mike Leigh bleakfests as "Meantime" and "All or Nothing." However, this film stars Emily Lloyd. Her character of Lynda seems written as a fragile, wounded creature driven to extreme behavior by emotional neglect (her mother died when she was young and her father is a stern, distant dope) and a rigid, oppressive social hierarchy (she suffers after being used and abandoned by a series of heartless men who are either older or wealthier than herself). As played by Emily Lloyd, however, Lynda is a joyful nymphomaniac who delights in offending people, kind of a "Happy Hooker Goes to Liverpool." Her outrageous behavior seems less a symptom of willful self-destructiveness than an animating demon impulse. In her dalliances with men, she seems to be seeking sexual satisfaction ("it's very nice, but is that all there is?") instead of love and security. Which makes her a distinctly post-feminist heroine out of "Sex and the City" instead of a victim of injustice out of a Theodore Dreiser novel. Which makes her completely out of sync with the rest of this gray, deterministic film. It doesn't help that Emily Lloyd, at least here, is so beautiful that she's literally luminous -- she seems to glow with a light that isn't shining on anything else in the film. Plus she's so vital and boisterous that we don't believe the circumstances which should be destroying her would even slow her down all that much. The key scene, which will either delight or disgust you, comes midway through the movie when lovely young Lynda takes a midnight stroll in her garden and ends up gamboling about, waking the neighbors (neighbours?) by screaming "up your BUUUUUUUUMMMMM!" at the top of her lungs. Is she a wounded soul begging for love and tolerance? A free spirit kicking against the pricks? A brat who needs to be spanked? Your answer to this question will determine your view of "Wish You Were Here."

Wish You Were Here is a delightful, moving and exceptional film for many reasons, but the most unusual is that it is one of two films written by David Leland (Mona Lisa) about a real person, the famous British madame, Cynthia Payne, which were both released in the same year--1987. (Both films claim to be fiction) Wish chronicles her youthful scandals; the other film,Terry Jones', Personal Services (1987) chronicles her adult scandals.

The two films are very different in style (this film being the more conventional of the two) but the character of Payne remains refreshingly the same. In Wish You Were Here the desperate pleading of a lonely young girl for love and affection takes a bizarre path helped by her rebellious and outspoken candid observations. It is her impatience with hypocrisy coupled with her desperate need that make this teenager so sympathetic. That, and her great sense of humor.

The colorful sex scenes filled with surprises keep the viewer disarmed, but mainly it is the main character's shining virtues of honesty, non-conformity, and defiance that makes this film a special one for young people. The scene with the therapist, matching dirty words, is one of the funniest on film, especially watching the marvelous way Emily Lloyd molds her reactions and then goes in for the kill. Emily Lloyd's career never lived up to this early brilliant performance, but her work here is so dazzling, it gives her a place in film history. Highly recommended for all teenagers who feel out of place and for adults who do, too.

Why hasn't this film moved to DVD? (only in England and Germany!) It's a rare find, and you may be both surprised and delighted!.

Emily Lloyd is great as 15 year old foul mouthed (for the 50s anyway) tenacious yet likeable tearaway Linda, growing up in a humdrum seaside town. The film's title potentially explains her volatile behaviour, having lost her mum when very young. A very enjoyable 7 out of ten

This film is loosely based on the early life of Cynthia Payne, an infamous British prostitute and madam who has been the subject of other films. It was the debut for British actress Emily Lloyd, who played Linda aka Cynthia Payne. The film follows Linda's sexual awakening with flash backs to her younger childhood.

Linda is an unhappy child whose mother died when she was young and her father, raising her and her sister as a lone parent, struggles to manage her as she reaches adolescence. Her burgeoning sexuality is ill-fitting with the social mores of the seaside community in which she lives. Her sexual curiosity is innocent and defiant. This makes for much hilarity: in one scene she is taken to see a psychiatrist who asks her what rude words she knows in order to assess her sexual precociousness. Linda is well aware of the psychiatrist's intention and leads him a merry dance. In another she shows her legs and some of her underwear to fellow colleagues in a bus station. Yet there are times during her sexual development that are mundane and also sad. It is apparent that what Linda most wants is love and in particular is needy for love from her father, in the absence of her mother, but he never understands her enough to realise this.

The ending of the film, which I won't share in the review, is typical of Linda's character. She strides with pride and passion across a park and golfing course, yet she is young and vulnerable and somewhat foolhardy. The viewer admires her resolve, her fortitude and fears for her future.

The performances of all are superb. Emily Lloyd and Tom Bell deserve special mention. The plot is simple and effective and the characterisations credible. Although it is set in an England that has passed, the themes and meaning remain relevant for today's young women.

a beautiful film, very human, very funny...... faultless performances all round. Emily Lloyd is wonderful, this is a performance of real depth and adeptness. Wonderfully emotive and poignant whilst being funny. Where are you Emily?

A precocious teen in a seaside town of southern England becomes aware of her power over males while flouting conventions, which doesn't help her relationship with her rigid father (Geoffrey Hutchings) and keeps getting her in trouble, which she finds amusing.

"Wish You Were Here" (1987) is a period piece and coming-of-age flick. It's been listed as a comedy, but it's not. It's a drama with humorous touches counterbalanced by the hard facts of life. The meshing of lighthearted bits with sober elements is interesting and true-to-life.

Emily was only 16 years-old during shooting while one of the guys she is drawn to, Tom Bell (Eric), was 53. It's no surprise that she's drawn to someone her dad's age because she's desperately seeking a father's love, despite her outward spunk.

I don't take the movie as supporting any particular issue, but rather as a character study of a certain type of person, in this case a female. It's also a commentary on society's curious mores at that particular time and place. What's an individualistic person to do, especially when s/he sees glaring hypocrisies and injustices?

Don't despise the girl for the questionable things she does. Remember, she's only like 16-17. We've all done rash, foolish or disrespectful things in our teens. Then we grew up. I'm pretty sure that Lynda will be growing up real quick by the end of the film.

The title seems odd and probably kept it from greater success. It refers to the protagonist missing her mother, who died when she was 11. She was close to her mom, but obviously not her dad.

It runs 1 hour, 28 minutes, and was shot in Worthing and nearby Bognor Regis (to the west), which are about an 85-minute drive due south of London.

GRADE: B-

This is a strange low-budget British drama about a young, promiscuous woman (was Lynda supposed to be a teenager throughout the film?) who asserts her independence in strange way (though less strange by the finale). Her precocious behavior stems from an odd relationship with her family. Once her mother dies, she becomes alienated from her estranged father and her "boring" sister (seriously, what was this kid doing all the time walking around in a scouts uniform carrying a flag?). Nonetheless, I suppose seeking solace in a meaningful relationship with other men (but I assume she realizes that none of these relationships are actually meaningful at all), she goes from one man to another, which serves only to further aggravate her father and others around her. Set in the late 40s/early 50s England, her outlandish, exhibitionist behavior is perceived as much more wild and offensive as she attempts to basically turn any convention about young women of the period on its head. (Whether this is to gain her father's attention, I'm never sure). Until the ultimate staging of independence (see the movie, why don't'cha?).

As odd as the film was (I especially was amused by Lynda's intent to use as much foul language as possible whenever the opportunity presented itself, which was often), Emily Lloyd did a fine job in the lead character. Although she is familiar to these types of roles, reminiscent of her character, Cookie (Cookie, 1989) or Samantha (In Country, 1989), or countless other films that she appeared in, portraying the same type of character. It is not at all surprising that her film debut role would garner her Best Actress awards (British honors and the National Society of Film Critics Awards--US). She was an excellent choice for the part and that is reason alone to see it.

I watched half last night and couldn't wait to finish it today. Emily Lloyd was absolutely phenomenal and I want to get more movies with her in it. All of the actors were excellent, from her aunt, to the Dad, to his friend.

Lynda was quite a character in this movie and you can understand why some kids act out like they do. I can relate to Lynda and make sense of some of the things I did as a kid after watching this. It was often hilarious and sometimes painful to watch. The acting is so incredible, you really could feel the emotion. And you feel for the father who can't control her, no matter what he tries to do.

British films are always so different from the norm. I love their artistic approach where everything is not spelled out for you and you have to make some inferences on your own. As such, every person's perspective is a little bit different. And the situations are always such real, every day type of situations from which they can spin a great story. I highly recommend this film.

It is not for children as there are many adult situations. Although I'm usually pretty loose with an R rating, I won't allow my tween children to watch this. Frankly, I don't think that kids would necessarily enjoy it anyway - as it's more of an adult drama with some funny and awkward moments.

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.

I went to see this movie because Siskal and Ebert recommended it and made it seem like a sweet delightful film. What it was really was a very young girl living with a really disgusting man who was cast as her father but he seemed too old. After losing her Mother to a fatal illness she was bereft and taken advantage of by her fathers equally disgusting old geezer friend in the falling down old garden shed behind the house. They set up housekeeping in this old shed but I was just depressed and sickened that no one seemed to see this as just plain molestation. This girl wasn't looking for sex at all she was looking for emotional comfort, in her grief. The acting may be quite good but I had a difficult time getting past my annoyance to appreciate it.

Possibly men don't recognize molestation when they see it.

If you enjoy life, this film is a must see... absolutely worth watching.

I saw this film about ten years ago as part of a one-day-show at a film festival. Since that time forward i have tried to see it again, but that has been impossible for any "commercial" movie theatre showed it in my country.

Both, the plot and the acting of Emily Lloyd left a delicious taste in my senses during and after the film was over. Later i found it was her first official/professional appearance on film. She was perfectly casted. One has no other choice but to love this film, and being a woman... it is a MUST SEE.

What happened to writer/director David Leland? It is a shame we don't see fresh films like this one more often. Recently, "Life is beautiful" (Italy) swept with many awards... well, "Wish You Were Here" is something like "life is not beautiful but one better live it to the edge, being the one and only life we have".

P.S. Still... i am waiting for the video version in order to watch this film over and over.

In my country this film did not reach the cinema theaters. I saw it back in 1989 in a small room (100 seats or less) of a private university's Cine Club.

It was a beautiful surprise. I was not expecting such a good film with dark drama and comic moments at one time. And the end is so relaxing after so much trouble... The best to me is the natural way Emily Lloyd acts, whom I try to follow after I saw this film.

In my opinion, she is underrated and not present in many films. Alas! Such a waste of talent and expressiveness.

I gave a star for the acting skills, particularly Emily Lloyd's. This film represents predatory and violent men, likely rooted in the creator's own disturbing view on women and his experiences. There is blatant molestation by older men falsely portrayed as "promiscuity" on the part of the child protagonist. An all too common story throughout time of men dominating and abusing women. This poor girl was not born "flamboyant"; she was traumatised and abused from a young age and this film stands to support abusers. Not to mention the real life experiences of Emily Lloyd who herself was molested and then went on to endure further abuse in front of cameras and many other men on set. Pure evil.

A difficult child faces more challenges when her dotting mother dies, leaving dad and two daughters to carry on. After a brief mourning period for mom who'd but one line, the story quickly moves to the age of sexual awakening. Let's get right to it, eh? Set post-War in the English coastal community, it stars a 16-yr old Emily Lloyd in her first film role, one that brought her the National Society Best Actress trophy.

Called a comedy and patterned on the early life of a London madam, there is nothing funny about Wish, as loudmouth Lynda sprays insults like an angry sea surf, drenching anyone in range and spends most the film hiking her skirt in hope of cavorting with any cock that crows. Had writers developed the supporting cast beyond the lecherous projectionist / bookie played convincingly by Tom Bell (The-L-Shaped-Room) until he turns tearful teenager, injected sufficient charm (the psychiatric assessment comes closest) or made believability a purpose in place of the extended man-bash, Lynda's occasional woebegone would've solicited sympathy and the blessing that arrives at movie's end might've pleased rather than perplexed. My wish is that critics at release had not confused brazen behavior with artful acting and better understood the power of their flowery words which did Emily no favor as her career never took off. Unless you've an ax to grind with the gents, steer clear of this one (1.5/4).

Excellent acting - particular by Emily Lloyd and Tom Bell. Clearly Emily Lloyd deserves all the accolades she got for this role. Tom Bell always gives a performance to remember. If you love English movies this is one you don't want to miss. Terrific story line (poignantly funny) and excellent direction. Wish You Were Here is one to see over and over again...which I have done! The Brits know how to make this kind of movie using "real" people not plastic "too pretty" Hollywood types. The story line depicts a generation's morals in a way that generates sympathy for all the characters. Choice of locale, scenery, staging of scenes and clothing worn will stir memories of the time when this story was laid. The scene in the Tea Room between Emily Lloyd and her father is priceless!

This is one of my alltime favorites. Emily Lloyd is my favorite actress and I've seen this film 8 times. It is funny, it is poignant and it is a classic movie.

An excellent study of austere england in war. A troubled character trying hard to become an adult, with all the petulance associated with teenagers (whatever the decade). It must be a hard film for north americans to watch, no gluto inous consumption, all that human frailty. Good job it wasn't made for them, we European liberals love this sort of thing.

Only watch this if you like seeing a little girl getting taken advantage of by a man old enough to be her father. (Read spoilers)

I don't understand how anyone could like this.

It was very difficult to even finish.

The main character is not likable at all.

The one star is for her acting.

If you want to invest your time in this, it will just leave you feeling yucky in the end.