Educating Rita

PLOT

Susan (who initially calls herself Rita) (Julie Walters), a 26-year-old working-class hairdresser, is dissatisfied with the routine of her work and social life; she is reluctant to have a child, fearing it will permanently tie her to the same monotonous routine for life, and she yearns to escape to something more profound, without exactly knowing what that is. She seeks to better herself by signing up for and attending an Open University course in English Literature.

Susan's assigned Open University professor, Frank Bryant (Michael Caine), is jaded and has long ago openly taken to the bottle, describing his occupational ability as "appalling but good enough for his appalling students". Bryant's passion for literature is reignited by Rita, whose technical ability for the subject is limited by her lack of education but whose enthusiasm Frank finds refreshing. Frank initially has misgivings about Rita's ability to adapt to student culture, but is impressed by her verve and earnestness and is forced to re-examine his attitudes and position in life; Susan finds Frank's tutelage opens doors to a bohemian lifestyle and a new self-confidence.

Frank's bitterness and cynicism return as he notices Susan beginning to adopt the pretensions of the university culture he despises. Susan becomes disillusioned by a friend's attempted suicide and realises that her new social niche is rife with the same dishonesty and superficiality she had previously sought to escape. The film ends as Frank, sent to Australia on a sabbatical, welcomes the possibilities of the change.

CAST

Michael Caine as Dr. Frank Bryant

Julie Walters as Susan "Rita" White

Michael Williams as Brian

Dearbhla Molloy as Elaine

Jeananne Crowley as Julia, Frank's girlfriend

Malcolm Douglas as Denny White, Rita's husband

Godfrey Quigley as Rita's father

Patricia Jeffares as Rita's mother

Maeve Germaine as Sandra, Rita's sister

Maureen Lipman as Trish, Rita's roommate

Gerry Sullivan as Security Officer

Pat Daly as Bursar

Kim Fortune as Collins

Philip Hurdwood as Tiger

Hilary Reynolds as Lesley

Jack Walsh as Price

Christopher Casson as Professor

Gabrielle Reidy as Barbara

Des Nealon as Invigilator

Marie Conmee as Customer in Hairdressers

Oliver Maguire as Tutor

Derry Power as Photographer

Alan Stanford as Bistro Manager