Attracta

Redemption and the pain of a wasted life are the disturbing themes of this adaptation of William Trevor's short story. An ageing spinster teacher, Attracta, fastidiously played by Wendy Hiller, cracks under the strain when she realises too late her failure to teach generations of Irish pupils that good can come out of the most horrific sectarian violence. Very moving, with a manic performance from McPartland as a warped Protestant.