Ryan's Daughter

Ryan's Daughter is a 1970 British epic romantic drama film directed by David Lean and written by Robert Bolt. Loosely inspired by Gustave Flaubert's 1857 novel Madame Bovary, the film stars Robert Mitchum and Sarah Miles as a married Irish couple whose lives are upended when the wife begins an affair with a British officer during World War I. Set in a remote coastal village in Ireland between August 1917 and January 1918, the film explores themes of love, betrayal, and political unrest amid rising nationalist tensions. The supporting cast includes John Mills, Christopher Jones, Trevor Howard, and Leo McKern.

The film was released theatrically in 1970 and was photographed in Super Panavision 70 by cinematographer Freddie Young, with a score composed by Maurice Jarre. Although met with largely negative reviews from critics upon its initial release, it emerged as a commercial success, grossing nearly $31 million against a production budget of $13.3 million, making it the eighth-highest grossing film of the year.

Ryan's Daughter received four nominations at the 43rd Academy Awards and won in two categories – Best Supporting Actor for Mills and Best Cinematography for Young.