Shirley Valentine

I've gone and rewatched it after reading this thread.

My childhood was a bit like Shirley's life was, dad came home from work and the dinner was on the table at 5.30 sharp. I'm embarrassed to say now but he used to have us bang out utensils on the table if it was late, my poor mum!

My dad was made redundant and my mum went back to work as a teacher. Having money of her own instead of a set amount of housekeeping every week meant she filed for divorce and was so much happier.

My dad decided to find a new wife and married the first woman he met and she then ran around after him, I honestly don't think he has cooked a single meal in his life.

I have tried to watch this three times this weekend.

The first two times I picked it up too late, but watched anyway.

I voice searched on Sky Q, booked it with Channel 5 and the bloody thing started recording after the first thirty minutes, still watched it though, so I have ordered it and Steel Magnolias and Terms of Endearment from Amazon for less than a tenner.

Such a great film.

I watched Educating Rita very recently, and was surprised by how emotional I felt, and how I loved being at University, and the freedom it gave me, and how long ago that was!

I'm neither Rita, or Shirley - but there are huge amounts I can identify with them both.

Yes, saw that! Thought there must be some backhander from the Greece tourist board.

I thought where her husband shoved the chips and egg in her lap was interesting. Would have been very sensitively shot/ dramatic music these days. Telling it was rather more accepted in 1980 whatever.

It's always scary realising you are older than characters in films you loved when you were younger. Realising I was older than Bernard Cribbins in The Railway Children was a sobering thought, as a child I always thought of him as ancient!

Love Shirley Valentine, my Mum loved it but of course she was the exact same age as Shirley when it first came out and I was a student, she wasn't working although she did go back to teaching a few years later (she wanted to go back to work after my younger sister started school but Dad didn't want people to think he couldn't support his family!).

To all the Shirley Valentine lovers; I recommend MrsCaldicots cabbage war. Basically a playbook on how to break out similarly once you are retired.

Loved it ! Saw it with my mum at the cinema and it made me emotional watching it the other night as she has dementia now and we used to love going to Greece together ☹️

Took my mum to see SV at the theatre a couple of years ago as we loved the film. It was great. Love Willy Russell.

Shirley Valentine and Educating Rita are just fabulous.

She states in the film that the character is 42.

I think she was 49, I looked it up as I thought Christ I'm about her age now! Great film (except the annoying looking at the camera thing, that always irritates me in films!)

Love that film ❤️❤️❤️

And yes, I'm shocked that she's now younger than me

It is in my family

@whatsnewpussyhat that's not the case because he is expecting Chips and Steak and gets Chips and Egg.

My favourite line.

Him: You are going mad you are.

Shirley Valentine: Oh I do hope so, I always wanted to travel.

Choked up at the bit where Shirley says, 'I've led such a little life.'

Seen it lots of times and watched half of it last night, it made me laugh as I've not seen it for years. I remember when I was young I saw her as really old, but now I'm approaching her Shirley age, I think she looked bloody fab, really radiant!

I'm in my 50s and was probably in my 20s when this first came out. I loved it but like others here, now find myself with a similar life, although not so extreme. I still remember the theme tune in my head - was it The Girl that Used to Be Me or the Woman that Used to Be Me? And find myself humming it......

A very clever film. Oh to be in Greece now.....

I'm 42 but think she looked well older than me. My mum did too at 42 but it was the same permy hair do and clothes that did that.

He doesn't say "egg and chips," though does he, he says "chips and egg." Is that a Liverpool thing? I have never heard it said that way round in real life and it always bothers me

That's because the egg is the side dish and the chips are the main portion of food.
So chips and egg. Or chips and beans.

If there was a meat product on the plate, that would take priority as the main and the chips become the side dish.
So sausage and chips, chicken nuggets and chips etc. Peas or beans can than be added to the end if required.

Fantastic film. I dont think its dated.
Many women with kids still face these attitudes and limitations to some degree. Even working in professional roles, they still come home to it!

Bugger, I didn’t realise it was on. I love that film. I remember my mum introducing it to me when I was a teenager. I didn’t understand the fact that it probably resonated with her so much then.