What happens at the end of Shirley Valentine?

Shirley Valentine is a 1989 British romantic comedy-drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert and based on a script by Willy Russell.

The movie’s plot follows Shirley Valentine, a bored 42-year-old working class Liverpudlian housewife whose life and initially enriching marriage has settled into a narrow and unsatisfying rut, leaving few real friends and her childhood dreams unaccomplished.

As a result, she feels as if her husband and children treat her more like a servant.

When her flamboyant friend Jane wins a trip for two to Greece, Shirley uncharacteristically puts herself first and accepts Jane’s invitation.

Upon arrival in Greece, Jane abandons Shirley for a holiday romance with a fellow passenger from their flight, leaving Shirley to set out on her own.

Shirley remained contentedly alone until she met Costas Dimitriades, the owner of a nearby tavern, who helps her fulfil a dream of drinking wine by the seashore in the country where the grapes were grown.

Costas later invites her to travel around the nearby islands for a day on his brother’s boat.

At the end of the movie, Shirley realises that she has not fallen in love with Costas, but has done something more important:

• She fell in love with life once again.