Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)

Sunday Bloody Sunday: Directed by John Schlesinger. With Peter Finch, Glenda Jackson, Murray Head, Peggy Ashcroft. The emotional intricacies of a polyamorous relationship between young artist Bob and his two lovers: a lonely male doctor and a frustrated female office worker.

“I first saw this at 17 in 1971 and was of course struck by the frankness in the portrayal of the relationship between Murray Head and Peter Finch. People in the suburban audience where I saw it SCREAMED when the two men first kissed. (Someone screamed at a directoru0026#39;s screening of the film, much to Schlesingeru0026#39;s consternation. It turned out to be Finchu0026#39;s wife.) One of the reviewers complained about Headu0026#39;s acting, but he is playing a very shallow character whose youth and beauty attract Glenda Jackson and Finch. The film holds up really well today with its complex characters and lack of stereotypes and simple judgments about people. There is also enormous charm and humor in the film, especially in the supporting players. The imagery in the film stays with me–the dog killed by a car, the Mummyu0026#39;s milk in the fridge, the inner workings of telephone switching, driving through the rain in London, men and women making love, precocious children smoking dope, and so much more. It feels like life. It also made me a lifelong fan of Finch, who went on to win a posthumous Oscar for u0026quot;Network,u0026quot; and Jackson, a two-time Oscar winner, who represents Hampstead in Parliament now. Probably my favorite film of all time.”