The Dawning

The Dawning is a 1988 British film, based on Jennifer Johnstons novel, The Old Jest which depicts the Irish War of Independence through the eyes of the AngloIrish landlord class. It starred Anthony Hopkins, Hugh Grant, Jean Simmons, Trevor Howard, and Rebecca Pidgeon, and was produced by Sarah Lawson, through her company Lawson Productions.

One day, Nancy goes down to the beach, and notices that her hut has been slept in. She leaves a note requesting that it be left alone. Soon after, she is on the beach reading, when Barrie comes up to her. Over the course of the film, the two develop a relationship, despite her not really knowing and understanding his job he is one of the first people that became part of a group named the IRA, and is on the run from the government. Nevertheless, she grows fond of Barrie, and dubs him Cassius because you have a mean and hungry lookAfter Cassius asks her to pass on a message to a colleague, several constables of the Royal Irish Constabulary are gunned down at a horse race show. Later that day, the R.I.C. comes to see Nancy, and ask her if she knows where Cassius is. The police officers suspicion is aroused when Nancys grandfather played by Trevor Howard says he saw her talking to a man on the beach. She denies any knowledge. When they leave, she runs to the cottage on the beach where Cassius was staying to tell him to flee, only to find that he has already packed. As they walk out, a light shines on them the RIC has found him. He is gunned down, much to Nancys distress. The film ends with Nancy back at home, considerably older and wiser than when the film started. ........

Source: Wikipedia