"Lark Rise to Candleford" (2008) TV series

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An adaptation of Flora Thompson's autobiographical novel "Lark Rise To Candleford", set in 19 century Oxfordshire, in which a young girl moves to the local market town to begin an apprenticeship as a postmistress.

Plot Keywords:

Memory

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Claudie Blakley	...	Emma Timmins (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Brendan Coyle	...	Robert Timmins (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Fergus Drysdale	...	Frank Timmins (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Olivia Hallinan	...	Laura Timmins (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Mark Heap	...	Thomas Brown (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Sarah Lancashire	...	Adult Laura (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Thomas Rhys Jones	...	Edmund Timmins (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Martha Murdoch	...	Ethel Timmins (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Julia Sawalha	...	Dorcas Lane (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Linda Bassett	...	Queenie Turrill (21 episodes, 2008-2009)
John Dagleish	...	Alf Arless (21 episodes, 2008-2009)
Karl Johnson	...	Twister Turrill (21 episodes, 2008-2009)
Matilda Ziegler	...	Pearl Pratt (21 episodes, 2008-2009)
Victoria Hamilton	...	Ruby Pratt (20 episodes, 2008-2009)
Sophie Miles	...	Sally Arless / ... (18 episodes, 2008-2009)
Harry Miles	...	Archie Arless / ... (18 episodes, 2008-2009)
Hope Yeomans	...	Lizzie Arless (18 episodes, 2008-2009)
Sandy McDade	...	Margaret Ellison / ... (14 episodes, 2008-2009)
Ruby Bentall	...	Minnie (11 episodes, 2009)
Jason Merrells	...	James Dowland (11 episodes, 2009)
Stephen Marcus	...	Matthew Welby (10 episodes, 2008)
Ben Miles	...	Sir Timothy Midwinter (10 episodes, 2008)
Liz Smith	...	Zillah (10 episodes, 2008)
Olivia Grant	...	Lady Adelaide Midwinter (9 episodes, 2008)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Bristol, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Loose Women: (#13.156)" (2009)

performances excellent ~ beautiful sets shot carefully

I have to disagree with the reviewer who says this was 'dreadful'. Film and television adaptations of ANY novel inevitably have to be stylised. I found the performances excellent, and have to pick our Julia Sawhala, unrecognisable from here Saffy days, and her presentation of the dialogue was a wonderful balance of sincerity, wit, warmth and pathos.

I might agree that Dawn French was 'larger than life' but along with Liz Smith the presence of these 2 actors in the cast gave it instant familiarity.

Now, 'dire dialogue'? I don't think so, we were ROARING at the sisters Pearl and Ruby, teary-eyed at the scenes of 'Twister', and watched EVERY moment of the 10 episodes.

Visually, INCREDIBLE, beautiful sets shot carefully and I felt it WAS 1850! I REALLY hope the BBC are planning a second third, fourth and FIFTH series ! THAT is how GOOD it is.

As the BBC replied to the critic 'What Lark Rise to Candleford does do very well is to draw in an audience who normally wouldn't watch this sort of programme.' It certainly drew me in ~ I will now read the books, so YES it's helping bring literature to a TV audience! My vote? 9 out of 10.