A thoroughly enchanting, gently-rolling study of a young Irish girl's progress to womanhood. Edna O'Brien's screenplay, from her own quasi-autobiographical novel (banned in Ireland on publication), is a masterly blend of nostalgia and tragi-comedy. The acting by the two young girl leads, Maeve Germaine and Jill Doyle, chosen from more than 500 who auditioned in a country-wide search, and New Zealander Sam Neill, as the dark and seductive object of their desire, is a joy from start to finish. The Country Girls became the first of the Film on Four films to get a British cinema release after its TV screening.

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