She's Been Away
“But her return set them both free”
Synopsis
A woman who has been institutionalized for 60 years for the "crime" of not conforming to the 1920s image of what a proper young woman should be (in other words, she did what she wanted and didn't care what anyone else thought about it) is finally released to the custody of her family, consisting of her grand-nephew and his family. At first she keeps a self-imposed distance from the relatives, but she soon finds herself coming around to her nephew's wife, a free spirit who is under the thumb of her cold and controlling husband.
Top Cast
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Peggy Ashcroft
Lillian Huckle
Geraldine James
Harriet Ambrose
James Fox
Hugh Ambrose
Rachel Kempson
Matilda
Rebecca Pidgeon
Young Lillian
Hugh Lloyd
George
Jackson Kyle
Dominic Ambrose
Rosalie Crutchley
Gladys
Cryss Jean Healey
Young Margaret
Leslie Goodall
Old Edward
Edgar Goodall
Old Thomas
René Zagger
Young Thomas
Barnaby Holm
Young Edward
Donald Douglas
Lillian's Father
Brid Brennan
Lillian's Nurse
David Hargreaves
Lillian's Doctor
Hugh Ross
1920's Doctor
Carrie Thomas
1920's Nurse
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Peter Hall
- Screenplay & Story
- Stephen Poliakoff
- Original Score
- Stephen Edwards
- Original Title
- She's Been Away
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Production Studios
- BBC
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Peter Hall
Stephen Poliakoff
Stephen Edwards
Philip Bonham-Carter
Ardan Fisher
Kenith Trodd
Department Leadership Roster
Peter Hall
Director
Stephen Poliakoff
Writer
Philip Bonham-Carter
Director of Photography
Ardan Fisher
Editor
Kenith Trodd
Producer
Gary Williamson
Production Design
Stephen Edwards
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for She's Been Away.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring She's Been Away.
list4
1989
1989
Volpi Cup for Best Actress (1935–Present)
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Frequently Asked Questions About She's Been Away
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is She's Been Away about?
A woman who has been institutionalized for 60 years for the "crime" of not conforming to the 1920s image of what a proper young woman should be (in other words, she did what she wanted and didn't care what anyone else thought about it) is finally released to the custody of her family, consisting of her grand-nephew and his family. At first she keeps a self-imposed distance from the relatives, but she soon finds herself coming around to her nephew's wife, a free spirit who is under the thumb of her cold and controlling husband.
Who directed She's Been Away?
She's Been Away was directed by Peter Hall.
Who stars in She's Been Away?
The principal cast of She's Been Away includes Peggy Ashcroft, Geraldine James, James Fox, Rachel Kempson, Rebecca Pidgeon.
When was She's Been Away released and how long is it?
She's Been Away was released in 1989 with a total runtime of 1h 43m.
Who composed the musical score for She's Been Away?
The original motion picture soundtrack for She's Been Away was composed by Stephen Edwards.
What is the age rating and content advisory for She's Been Away?
She's Been Away holds official age classifications: GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.).