Rita finally wants to know

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Movie
German title Rita finally wants to know
Original title Educating Rita
Country of production Great Britain
original language English
Publishing year 1983
length 110 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Lewis Gilbert
script Willy Russell
production Lewis Gilbert
music David Hentschel
camera Frank Watts
cut Garth Craven
occupation

Rita finally wants to know , in the original: Educating Rita , is a British film directed by Lewis Gilbert from 1983 based on the play Educating Rita by Willy Russell .

action

Susan White , a married hairdresser of 26, decides to pursue an exam despite (or perhaps because of) her incomplete schooling. To do this, she takes courses at the " Open University ", where she meets the disaffected, drinking literature teacher Frank Bryant . The arrival of Rita (that's what Susan calls herself now) turns his world upside down. Enthusiastic about her fresh, self-confident manner, he finds her company stimulating and liberating. As Rita’s development progresses, Frank even falls in love with her.

However, the price paid for her education is that she gives up part of her warm impulsive action, which Frank sees with regret. The two are drifting apart more and more and Frank notices that Rita is now educated and no longer dependent on him, but has also lost a piece of herself.

In the end, she passes the dreaded exam and, in addition to her newly acquired wealth of knowledge, has gained in quality of life and new social connections, but the price for this is the loss of her impulsiveness and her former social environment.

criticism

"The fast-paced and brilliantly staged theatrical adaptation varies the" Pygmalion "motif in a very original way, although it does not delve too deeply and rather plays down the conflicts that have been broached."

- film service

Others

In the theatrical version, the play only takes place in Frank's office and Rita and Frank are the only actors. The film version, however, has been significantly expanded.

A very similar setting can be found in the novel “Die Vielgeliebte” by the Austrian writer Jörg Mauthe .

Literature (selection)

Several publishers have different editions of the stage text.

  • Willy Russell: Educating Rita , reclam - ISBN 3-15-009040-7 (English version of the play)
  • Willy Russell: Educating Rita (with materials), Pearson Longman - ISBN 0-582-43445-9 (English)
  • Interpretation aid English. Willy Russell: Educating Rita, Stark - ISBN 3-89449-475-1
  • Willy Russell: Educating Rita (with additional material; edited and annotated by Albert-Reiner Glaap), Diesterweg - ISBN 3-425-04099-5 (English)

Awards

Awards received for the film version:

  • 1984 - BAFTA Award for Michael Caine for Best Actor, Julie Walters for Best Actress, Maureen Lipman for Best Supporting Actress and Producer / Director Lewis Gilbert also received the trophy for Best Picture.
  • 1984 - Golden Globe Award for Michael Caine and Julie Walters

There were also Oscar nominations in the categories of Best Actress , Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay .

Web links