This film, depicting the demise of the Anglo-Irish in 1920s Ireland, is aimed squarely at the kind of audience who enjoyed Tea With Mussolini and countless Merchant Ivory productions before. Beneath the perfect manners of the characters and long afternoon tennis parties, unrest stirs and the young daughter of the clan (Hawes) is the first to realise.
Slawomir Idziak's unusual cinematography sets the film apart from the crowd (scenes shot through tinted glass, clever framing of past family portraits to contrast sharply with the characters period dress and current position), but first time director Warner is less certain of the characters. What develops is a disappointing drama, with a weak central heroine and flashes of ugly violence which might just offend the very people who would enjoy it most.