"South Riding" (2011) TV mini-series 2011-

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

2011 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A tale of conflicted love at the heart of a community in turmoil

Plot:

In 1930s Yorkshire, a spirited new headmistress brings inspiration and modern ideas to an all girls' school and shakes up the more conservative-minded residents of South Riding.

Plot Keywords:

TV Mini-Series

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Anna Maxwell Martin	...	Sarah Burton (3 episodes, 2011)
David Morrissey	...	Robert Carne (3 episodes, 2011)
Penelope Wilton	...	Mrs. Beddows (3 episodes, 2011)
Katherine McGolpin	...	Midge Carne (3 episodes, 2011)
Charlie May-Clark	...	Lydia Holly (3 episodes, 2011)
Douglas Henshall	...	Joe Astell (3 episodes, 2011)
Ian Bartholomew	...	Gaius Drew (3 episodes, 2011)
Shaun Dooley	...	Mr. Holly (3 episodes, 2011)
Peter Firth	...	Anthony Snaith / ... (3 episodes, 2011)
John Henshaw	...	Alfred Huggins (3 episodes, 2011)
Lydia Wilson	...	Muriel Carne (3 episodes, 2011)
Daniel West	...	Young Robert Carne (2 episodes, 2011)
Brid Brennan	...	Miss Sigglesthwaite (2 episodes, 2011)
Jennifer Hennessy	...	Mrs. Holly (2 episodes, 2011)
Marie Critchley	...	Mrs. Brimsley (2 episodes, 2011)
Alexandra Pearson	...	Gertie Holly (2 episodes, 2011)
Penny Layden	...	Mrs. Huggins (2 episodes, 2011)
Janine Mellor	...	Bessy Warbuckle (2 episodes, 2011)
Renny Krupinski	...	Hicks (2 episodes, 2011)
John-Paul Hurley	...	Reg Aythorne (2 episodes, 2011)

Series Directed by
Diarmuid Lawrence		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Writing credits
Andrew Davies		(3 episodes, 2011)
Winifred Holtby		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Produced by
Angie Daniell	....	line producer (3 episodes, 2011)
Rebecca Eaton	....	executive producer: Masterpiece (3 episodes, 2011)
Hilary Martin	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 2011)
Lisa Osborne	....	producer (3 episodes, 2011)
Anne Pivcevic	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Original Music by
Rob Lane		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Cinematography by
Alan Almond		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Film Editing by
David Head		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Casting by
Kate Rhodes James		(3 episodes, 2011)
David Shaw		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Production Design by
Chris Roope		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Art Direction by
Tim Stevenson		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Costume Design by
Stephanie Collie		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Makeup Department
Clair Blackmore	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 2011)
Nic Collins	....	hair & make-up designer (3 episodes, 2011)
Jodie Fidell-Walker	....	makeup supervisor (3 episodes, 2011)
Jack Saundercock	....	make-up and hair trainee (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Martin Curry	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 2011)
Sarah Gilham	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 2011)
John William Turner	....	third assistant director (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Art Department
Jason Bond	....	property master (3 episodes, 2011)
Dominic Byles	....	dressing props (3 episodes, 2011)
Thomas Chester	....	stand-by props trainee (3 episodes, 2011)
Andrew Fielding	....	carpenter (3 episodes, 2011)
Kat Hale	....	art department assistant (3 episodes, 2011)
Mark Jones	....	dressing props (3 episodes, 2011)
Katie Lee	....	stand-by art director (3 episodes, 2011)
Ian Lucas	....	dressing props (3 episodes, 2011)
Jodi Maddix	....	dressing props (3 episodes, 2011)
Neesh Ruben	....	set dresser (3 episodes, 2011)
Andy Watson	....	assistant art director (3 episodes, 2011)
Duncan Wheeler	....	set dresser (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Sound Department
Philip Clements	....	foley editor (3 episodes, 2011)
Alistair Crocker	....	sound recordist (3 episodes, 2011)
Chris Devlin	....	sound assistant (3 episodes, 2011)
Alex Ellerington	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 2011)
Paul Hamblin	....	sound re-recording mixer (3 episodes, 2011)
James Harbour	....	sound maintenance (3 episodes, 2011)
Jonny Masters	....	sound assistant trainee (3 episodes, 2011)
Forbes Noonan	....	adr recordist (3 episodes, 2011)
Jeff Richardson	....	dialogue editor (3 episodes, 2011)
Catherine Thomas	....	foley editor / foley recordist (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Visual Effects by
Alexis Haggar	....	visual effects supervisor (3 episodes, 2011)
Mark Maltby	....	conform editor: The Look (3 episodes, 2011)
Dan Marbrook	....	post producer: The Look (3 episodes, 2011)
Thomas Urbye	....	colourist: The Look (3 episodes, 2011)
Pragti Wadhwa	....	compositor (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Stunts
Andy Bradford	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 2011)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
David Bird	....	camera assistant (3 episodes, 2011)
David Bishop	....	electrician (3 episodes, 2011)
Darren Campbell	....	electrician (3 episodes, 2011)
Richard Davies	....	grip (3 episodes, 2011)
Meg de Koning	....	camera assistant (3 episodes, 2011)
Nick Everett	....	second assistant camera: dailies (3 episodes, 2011)
John Hembrough	....	camera operator / steadicam operator (3 episodes, 2011)
Piotr Perlinski	....	assistant camera (3 episodes, 2011)
Sam Smith	....	focus puller (3 episodes, 2011)
Chris Sowden	....	best boy (3 episodes, 2011)
Andrew Taylor	....	gaffer (3 episodes, 2011)
Haydn Thomas	....	focus puller (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Casting Department
Annelie Powell	....	casting assistant (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Aimee Callaway	....	costume assistant (3 episodes, 2011)
Jennifer Harvey	....	costume supervisor (3 episodes, 2011)
Cara Stevens	....	costume trainee (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Editorial Department
Nigel Bunyan	....	assembly editor (3 episodes, 2011)
Jessica Rundle	....	post-production supervisor (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Music Department
Dom Kelly	....	musician: oboe (3 episodes, 2011)
Steve Parr	....	music recording engineer (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Other crew
Abigail Atkinson	....	production secretary (3 episodes, 2011)
Matthew Bowden	....	location scout (3 episodes, 2011)
Dave Bowen	....	assistant accountant (3 episodes, 2011)
Dan Connolly	....	location scout (3 episodes, 2011)
Surian Fletcher-Jones	....	script editor (3 episodes, 2011)
Anne Frederick	....	unit publicist (3 episodes, 2011)
Sarah Hulls	....	production accountant (3 episodes, 2011)
Matt Jennings	....	floor runner (3 episodes, 2011)
Lynn Roberts	....	production coordinator (3 episodes, 2011)
Simon Sharrod	....	script supervisor (3 episodes, 2011)
Maddie Sinclair	....	script editor (3 episodes, 2011)
Emma Smith	....	unit manager (3 episodes, 2011)
Luc Webster	....	location manager (3 episodes, 2011)
James Youd	....	runner (3 episodes, 2011)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• BBC Video (2011) (USA) (DVD) (complete mini-series)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2010) (UK) (all media)

Other Companies

• EuroKids & Adults International Casting and Model Agency  extras casting
• Look, The  post production facilities
• Take 2 Film Services  camera equipment provided by

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Wright Stuff: Episode #15.40" (2011)

Apart from a rather rushed final episode, South Riding is very, very good

I saw South Riding as a fan of period dramas, and loved it. I received the book as a get well present while recovering in hospital from a major spinal operation, and I will say I have read few books apart from The Little White Horse and And Then There Were None, where I was engrossed right from its first word. Then I saw the series again, and was still very impressed by it, though I do think the book is better in many ways.

South Riding by Winifred Holtby has a very rich story that tells of a community's spirit tested to its limits, and of the hopes, fears and relationships of its inhabitants as they face a changing world. This story which is also very bold and ambitious is beautifully told, with wonderfully written and wholly credible characters, and maintains an emotional impact long after finishing. This adaptation of South Riding does do a respectable job adapting this magnificent book. It is rather condensed yes, but the characters while lacking the complexity of their book counterparts are still credible and don't fall into the trap of becoming caricatures, the story is swiftly told and emotionally resonant and most of the situations, language and relationships are intact and done well.

My complaint of South Riding though is that it felt rather rushed in the last episode. Not just in the pace, which I do think could have been slowed down much more than it was, but also in how some relationships and plot points were developed. I did feel at one point there was a little too much happening and some components were explained in a hurry in an attempt to explain everything before the running time was over. I also think South Riding was too short, it was only 3 episodes, in my opinion to explain so much and to give credibility to so many characters it should have been 5 or 6. And this is a shame, because while the final episode was far from unwatchable in fact it was decent enough on its own merits, the other two episodes made for compulsive viewing.

Complaints aside, South Riding is very, very good on its own terms and one of my favourites on television airing this year. The writing is strong being thoughtful, eloquent and poignant to say the least, and the direction is appropriately skilled. The pace is spot on in the first two episodes, not too rushed not too slow, but it is a disappointment really that it felt rushed by the end. The music is very beautiful and hypnotic sometimes, manages to enhance the drama and very rarely does it feel overbearing. What really impressed me about South Riding were the production values which were stunning, not just in the elegant camera work but also in the authentic costumes and beautiful scenery and location shooting.

The acting is very good. Anna Maxwell Martin has grown as an actress since I saw her in 2005's outstanding Bleak House, and she does a wonderful job portraying a forward-thinking, ambitious and a-woman-of-the-times sort of woman in the name of Sarah Burton. David Morrisey is every bit as good as Robert Carne, a man who represents everything Sarah detests in that he stands firmly against Sarah's ideals but also has a tormented past. There is a strong supporting cast, particularly of note is the wonderful Penelope Wilton as Mrs Beddows.

All in all, a solid adaptation and an overall excellent mini-series. After watching I was debating whether to give it an 8 or a 9, instead I settled with a solid 8.5/10. Bethany Cox