Act of the Heart

Synopsis

Act of the Heart (1970), directed by Paul Almond and starring Geneviève Bujold, follows the emotional and spiritual turmoil of Ruth (Bujold), a devoted young nurse whose life is upended by an intense, forbidden attraction. Set against a backdrop of moral questioning and austere, elegiac visuals, the film explores themes of faith, desire, sacrifice and the consequences of unchecked longing. Bujold’s Ruth is depicted with psychological complexity as she negotiates inner conflict between personal yearning and the expectations imposed by religion and society. The film is measured and atmospheric, emphasizing character study over plot-driven action; it favors long, contemplative scenes, symbolic imagery and a restrained, melancholic tone that demands patience from viewers. Act of the Heart is often noted for its powerful central performance and its willingness to tackle difficult emotional and ethical territory without simplifying the pain at the story’s core.

Cast

• 

  Geneviève Bujold

  Martha Hayes

• 

  Donald Sutherland

  Father Michael Ferrier

• Monique Leyrac

  Johane Foss

• 

  Sharon Acker

  Adele

• Eric House

  Choirmaster

• Ratch Wallace

  Diedrich

Reviews

Critical reaction to Act of the Heart has been mixed historically. Many reviewers praised Geneviève Bujold’s performance as the film’s strongest element, noting her intensity and commitment to portraying a character in deep inner conflict. Contemporary and later assessments often commend the film’s cinematography and its austere, contemplative mood, while criticizing its tendency toward melodrama and uneven pacing. On IMDb, user ratings reflect a middling reception: the film holds a 6.1/10 average (IMDb: 6.1/10). As for aggregator coverage, Act of the Heart does not have a widely cited Metacritic score, and Rotten Tomatoes has limited contemporary critic coverage, with no prominent Tomatometer consensus available for many editions of the title; audience and critic material on those platforms is sparse compared with more widely distributed films. Overall, reviews tend to split between admiration for Bujold’s central performance and for the film’s visual and thematic ambition, and frustration at what some critics call overwrought sentiment or a lack of narrative focus. For viewers interested in character-driven, meditative cinema and strong acting, the film is often recommended; for those preferring tighter storytelling and clearer resolution, the film can feel slow or indulgent. The balance of praise and criticism makes Act of the Heart a polarizing but noteworthy entry in late-1960s/early-1970s Canadian cinema.

See also

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