The Bonfire of Destiny

Apart from that, (the title SHOULD be The Charity Bazaar), please watch this in the original French with subtitles. Actually, watch ANY show in it's original language with subtitles as ALL THE DUBBING is horrendous. I agree with all the other reviewers, good story, good acting apart from the HUGE plot hole with Adrienne running all over Paris with her distinctive red hair aflame for all to see. Gee, hubby recognised me? Go figure? The rest is top notch.

Camille lou (someone who I had never heard of before) absolutely captivates your attention through out this intensely dramatic, tightly woven tale of four women and their families set in period France. The French mansions and scenery are gorgeous, beautiful cinematography, and a villain you really hate and keeps you on edge. class warfare, love, politics, revenge and revolution .. thoroughly binge worthy

I watched this because my favourite French actress, Audrey Fleurot stars in it and she's magnificent as the tormented flame haired heroine Adrienne. However, all the cast are fantastic, the period detail and costuming excellent and the horrific fire scene in the first episode, which happens in real time, devastating, upsetting and thrilling all at once. The story is a fin de ciecle tale of the rich and the poor set in Paris and filmed in some the most beautiful houses I have ever seen on film. The story is a "page turner", well paced, gripping and with characters you care about. I wanted all the women whose stories are told after the dreadful fire, to have happy endings. If you are looking for a French "Downton Abbey" this may be a bit gory and there are a few tasteful sex scenes although minimal nudity. The 18 certificate is presumably for the injury detail after the inferno, which is pretty grim. I watched the whole 8 episodes in two sittings. Recommended for anyone who likes bodice ripping historical drama although this series did have a feminist twist, most of the men either being weak or hissably villainous! Overall, extremely good Gallic drama with very high production values. 9 out of 10.

I'm not a huge fan of French movies (subtitled) or love stories; however, this movie has changed both of those perspectives completely! With a cast of wonderfully portrayed characters, I was spell bound for two days watching this series to its eighth episode. In a time of political upheaval, silent, strong women are pitted against the bravado of their wealthy husbands, but with promise of a new day of reason, and compassion on the horizon among the young and the working class. My blood boiled as the perfect villain slithered his way through each episode, and I wept, as much, through the sensitive love scenes (thank you for keeping the nudity scarce--always felt it detracted from the plot). Thank you for releasing a series that kept me thinking about what was important during this time period and the wonder of excellently written twists in a plot. I can't wait for the second season. Please keep it classy like the first.

The first episode had such an effect on me. Once the fire starts I couldn't look away. It's terrifying and you can sense their fear. The fact that this really happened is so sad. Some scenes are extremely hard to watch, but it's well done. The men are infuriating, especially those at the charity bizarre!