the story and a several reviewer have note and follow the booby gentry ballad . glynnis oconnor and a a young woman come of age in rural mississippi . robby benson be good and although the story itself awkward at time and and at time when the plot be reveal outright embarrass and with an improbable twist . when this film come out and i saw this in the theater . it be consider radical at the time and much like summer of 42 in that there be a secret reveal which audience clamor to see . unfortunately and what be reveal be that mr. barksdale have take liberty with billy joe while and billy joe eventually end his life . glynnis oconnor do well and portray confusion and frustration and passion while the melange of emotion of a young woman and who want to find love . one of the final scene and when she encounter barksdale on the tallahatchie bridge and be quite touching and sad . she sound to him a world weary adult and after all that have happen she tell barksdale to basically and move on . nothing can be do . it be time to let go . move in it finality and she be a young woman go out in the world with nothing but a suitcase while when he ask her what she will do she say somehow i will manage . the ballad be evocative of early and hazy day in the country . while i have not live in mississippi and i have visit it and south georgia and and also reside in rural northern florida for a time . there be still the sense of the south and a slow pace and even today . if you like movie of this era and you may enjoy this . the cinematography reflect the stillness and unspoiled beauty of the rural south . positive .