Wile me with a quiet winner! How lucky I consider myself to be in the possession of a DVD player and the owner of a charter membership in Netflix...otherwise I may not have ever had the chance to see this memorable mini series from Yorkshire Television in England. My only wish is that it had been produced by the BBC so as to have had a little more money for production....sets, lighting, costuming, etc. However, limited budget aside, it's a gem of a script and there is greatness in the performances of all the main characters. I was unfamiliar with the actors except Barbara Leigh-Hunt "Wives and Daughters" (1999)(mini) `Bertie and Elizabeth' (2002) who played Mrs. Gaskell and the narrator of the story. I actually think the other actors being unknown boosted the believability of the characters they were portraying.
The series is at least partially based on the book `The Life of Charlotte Brontë (1857)` by Elizabeth Gaskell. A book that I read and loved a few years ago when I went through my Elizabeth Gaskell stage of infatuation with British women authors.
The story is captivating and the mood of the mini series suits the subject and writers to perfection. The characters really come to life in this in depth look at the cloistered lives of the entire Brontë family. And what an extraordinary family to produce not one but three world class writers! This series tries to explain the mystery of so much talent erupting from a little village by such an unsuspecting set of women. It also sheds light on the tragedies that led to early deaths for all three girls and their brother. I would like to say it's a darn good bit of luck that the girls were not suited to teaching or motherhood or the world would be missing a few good classics of literature. And what a shame they didn't live long enough to grace us with more. I was sincerely appreciative of the opportunity to savor all five parts. A must for any Brontë devotee.
