Movie review

North and South

This is a BBC production of an Elizabeth Gaskell Novel . The story is very good and thus far I think Gaskell gives Austen a run for her money. This production is very well done. It is well cast and the time period really comes alive.

Ms. Hale, the Heroine is pretty rough around the edges and so his her counterpart Mr. Thornton for that matter. The scenes and dialog between them are very intense and full of energy and misunderstanding which always makes for good viewing in the stuffy and ultra-civilized style of the period.

Ms. Hale is taken north to the industrialized section of England by her Parson father who mysteriously left his religious post in the south. She comes in contact with Mr. Thornton a manufacturer who owns a large cotton mill.

Cultures collide and two endearing and deep characters mature before your very eyes.

A very believable supporting cast of mill workers, bankers, widows, constables, servants and much more create a wonderful set of subplots. The struggle of the workers is especially interesting.

The story weaves through death, union strikes, prejudice, scandal, intrigue, love lost and love found. Its broken into four episodes that were televised in England, so you do not have to endure the 300 minute journey all at once.