In early 1900s Ireland, an old widower is in need of female help, so hires on a young woman Sarah (Saskia Reeves) and her mother. Immediately his two sons has eyes for her (Donald McCann as Hamilton Jr. and Ciaran Hinds as Frank). The widower dies, and Sarah and the sons start doing things like not attending church. Sarah's mother eventually quits in protest of her daughter's disobedient behavior. Sarah stays on.
Hamilton is more serious and practical. Frank is a bit broody and a little more carnal. Although Sarah welcomes attentions of other men, suprisingly, she takes to both of the sons. Sarah becomes pregnant but refuses to marry or name the father.
Patrick Malahide plays the local preacher.
The film then skips ahead to when Sarah now has two grown children, with her daughter wanting to marry. Sarah's old decisions now are revisited on the children.
The film allowed the actors' reactions/performance to tell the story. Reeves as the main character did a lot with her face.
The latter part when the children were grown felt like it was manufactured for the story just so Sarah had to decide whether or not to compromise her psersonal views. This section was only 10 minutes long and the film could have spent more time showing the kids growing up and more shunning from the town, how long-term Sarah's initial decision caused problems for everyone else, as Frank seemed to be the only one who suffered. This part was not made enough of an integral part of the story, just a device to force Sarah to confront her past mistakes.
Otherwise the threesome appeared more a marriage of convenience than one of true love, as Sarah never seemed to commit to either man fully nor allowed either of them to choose between his brother or his bride.
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