A Patch of Blue 1965

Selina D’Arcey is a blind young girl navigating life in a cramped city apartment alongside her harsh and foul-mouthed mother, Rose-Ann, a prostitute, and her grandfather Ole Pa, who struggles with alcoholism. To help her family make ends meet, Selina spends her days stringing beads and performing household chores. Sadly, her mother’s abusive nature and her grandfather’s addiction mean that Selina often feels isolated, without friends and devoid of formal education.

One day, Selina persuades her grandfather to take her to the park, where she crosses paths with Gordon Ralfe, a gentle and educated black man who works late hours at an office. Their friendship blossoms, with the two meeting nearly every day. Gordon learns of Selina’s tragic past, including the traumatic event when she was blinded at five years old due to her mother’s violent outburst, where she threw chemicals at her husband, and a subsequent assault by one of her mother’s friends.

As the story unfolds, Sadie, Rose-Ann’s friend, also a prostitute, sees an opportunity to exploit Selina for their gain. Together, Rose-Ann and Sadie hatch a plan to abandon Ole Pa, relocate to a nicer apartment, and force Selina into prostitution.

Amidst this turmoil, Gordon reaches out to a school for the blind, eager to secure Selina a place there. When Rose-Ann steps out, Selina escapes to the park to confide in Gordon about her dire circumstances. He reassures her that she will soon depart for school. When Rose-Ann discovers Selina is missing, she confronts Gordon at the park. In a bold move, Gordon takes Selina away, with Ole Pa hindering Rose-Ann’s attempts to pursue them, asserting that Selina is no longer a child.

During her time at Gordon’s home, Selina expresses her desire to marry him. However, Gordon gently explains that love can manifest in various forms, suggesting their relationship may not be meant to last. Despite her insistence that she loves him and that his race is irrelevant to her, he advises her to broaden her horizons and wait a year before making any decisions about their future together. Just as a bus arrives to transport Selina to her new school, they share a poignant farewell, symbolized by the cherished music box Gordon lends her, which originally belonged to his grandmother. In a touching moment, he attempts to rush after her when she forgets the gift, but misses the bus, returning to his empty apartment, filled with a mix of hope and heartache.