[7] The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The prevailing tone of downright artificiality is struck at the outset with Sarah Miles posing in silhouette behind the credits and against the crashing scea.

Only Cyril Cusack, more fortunate in his role of sagacious old bar owner, manages to convey the feeling of an actual human being living in a world of real emotions.

"[8] Allmovie noted "a softly beautiful, hauntingly poetic little film, a fragile piece of filmmaking that in other hands could come off as either unbearably precious or pretentious.

"[9] Time Out called it "A horribly pretentious and sentimental film which still manages to retain a degree of emotional power, with moments of real intensity and conviction...

The film is certainly much better than Davis' earlier Irish story The Girl with Green Eyes (also adapted from Edna O'Brien), but it's dogged by the awful tricks of overemphasis which he seems to have learned from his patron Tony Richardson.