Shirley Valentine (film) Shirley Valentine (film) Shirley Valentine is an award-winning 1989 British romantic comedy-drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert. The screenplay by Willy Russell is based on his 1986 one-character play of the same title, which follows middle aged Shirley Valentine in an unexpected discovery of herself, and rekindling of her childhood dreams and youthful love of life. Pauline Collins reprises the titular lead role as middle-aged housewife Shirley, which she had previously played in the stage production in London's West End and on Broadway, and Tom Conti plays Costas Dimitriades, the owner of a Greek tavern with whom she has a
The Girl Who Played with Fire (film) that the latter gives in to the worst impulses, noting that only the former story "works" as some redemption is provided through revenge. Michael Phillips of the "Chicago Tribune" wrote that the film is much the same as its predecessor, despite the new director (Daniel Alfredson) and screenwriter (Jonas Frykberg), and is likely to please those who enjoyed the first film. He wrote that Rapace remained the chief asset of the series, and that she worked well with Michael Nyqvist, who he likened to a more sincere, Swedish version of Larry Hagman. He wrote further that, even though Rapace and