Directed by:
Hettie MacDonaldScreenplay:
Kenneth LonerganCinematography:
Wojciech SzepelComposer:
Nico MuhlyCast:
Matthew Macfadyen, Hayley Atwell, Philippa Coulthard, Alex Lawther, Tracey Ullman, Joseph Quinn, Sandra Voe, Miles Jupp, Gavin Brocker, Julia Ormond (more)Episodes(4)
Plots(1)
Set in Edwardian England, this four-part adaptation of E.M. Forster's classic novel tells the story of Margaret and Helen Schlegel, two independent and unconventional sisters seeking love and meaning as they navigate an ever-changing world. Margaret and Helen Schlegel are intelligent and idealistic young women living together with their hypochondriac younger brother Tibby in Edwardian London. Since the death of their parents and despite their interfering Aunt Juley's best intentions, the sisters lead independent and slightly unorthodox lives. After meeting the wealthy and conservative Wilcox family on holiday, Margaret forms a friendship with the older and more traditional Ruth Wilcox. When Ruth unexpectedly dies, Margaret finds herself increasingly drawn to the newly widowed Henry Wilcox, a self-made businessman who inherits his late wife's beloved country home Howards End. Meanwhile, the passionate and capricious Helen takes up the cause of Leonard Bast, a young bank clerk who is struggling to make ends meet, trapped by his promise to marry his alluring but vulnerable lover Jacky. (Home Box Office)
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Reviews (3)
An updated retelling of the classic heritage novel by E. M. Foster is especially satisfying in places where the viewer is already familiar with the earlier film. We get a nice shift in the actors' generations and understanding of the time shortly before Word War I. Emma Thompson is followed up on by Hayley Atwell (both of them have so much unexpected energy), Vanessa Redgrave by Julia Ormond (what fragility they were able to find in each other is a real surprise), Helena Bonham Carter by Philippa Coulthard (the difference here is very interesting, young Carter used to be such a youngster, while Coulthard is life energy herself) and Anthony Hopkins by Matthew Macfadyen (which pushes the age difference a bit)... The more I view these modern classics, the more important I find them as a tool for understanding today. This is because the situations don't change, the nature of the people doesn’t change, and the world just changes colors. Why do people consider the last film the weakest? Probably because it's the most Forster-esque. #bbc
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A completely mediocre British drama from the start of the twentieth century London, nicely depicting the average intelligentsia of that time. And since the writers fortunately didn’t start any Jane Austen-like relationship tangle, it was pretty watchable. It wasn’t offensively bad, but it was mediocre the typical British way. But it still sufficed as a way to kill some time.
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Here’s the thing - I originally thought the series would be about something completely different. My bad, I should have read the synopsis. I was entertained by the story at times but also slightly bored at other times. What I would highlight is definitely the interesting cast, but otherwise it was nothing special.
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