BBC Adaptation based on the book by Elizabeth Gaskell
Review:
The adaptation is based on the book by Elizabeth Gaskell, one of my favourite authors. Her books are usually compared to those of Jane Austen. Though I feel her stories are more grounded to reality than Austen's, which are far more romantic in nature. The central theme of Austen's books is romance, whilst Gaskell focuses on all others relationships including romance.
Set in provincial England, the story is centered around a sensible girl with dreamy eyes, Molly, her family , her friendships and the society she lives in. It is her journey and struggle from childhood and mainly focuses on her relationship with her father, her step mother, her step sister and her secret love. Molly looses her mother in her early years and her father, a well established doctor in the province, falls in love and marries again . Her step mother is a governess with polished manners and though outwardly appears a kind person, is very concieted. She has a daughter from an earlier marriage, Cynthia, who is ravishingly beautiful but is rebellious in nature. Molly endures a silent struggle of acceptance and gets accustomed to her father's divided attentions to the new family. The squires in the town are very fond of Molly and they consider her as a part of their family. She falls in love with the younger son, Roger, but she never reveals her feelings to him. He in turn falls in love with Cynthia and Molly has to deal with the hardbreak silently.
The squire, over a period of time, looses his wife and his elder son to illness. He struggles between the matters of status and heart when he figures out that his elder son had secretly married a French maid and has a son. Molly helps him accept the daughter-in-law and grand son.Cynthia has her share of struggle with her secrets of the past and has to deal with heartbreaks herself.
The story is more of a journey of each one of the characters, they recognize their weaknesses and evolve over a period of time . Set on the backdrop of provinicial England, there is an undercurrent of how the society was, at that point of time. The character of a young girl , if she is seen with someone unworthy and exchanging a secret word, is looked upon on derogatory terms. The fame of the girl and her family is questioned. There is a matchmaking talk which always goes on in town between a certain eligible young man and a pretty girl. What is worthy and who is worthy is discussed with utmost scrutiny.
The BBC adaptation is brilliant and sticks to the book to the core till the end. The ending is modified a little bit as the book was left unfinished by the author, who died suddenly. Shot mainly in the country side, the visuals are beautiful. The costumes, the sceneries, the carriages transport you to the period which is so appealing. On a weekend, sit back, relax and enjoy this adaptation.
Recommended : 👍👍
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