A pile-driving, emotionally shattering juggernaut of an episode which saw transformations en-masse. For the characters, nothing would ever be the same again.
Having said several times before that I have an issue with the thousand pages of Tolstoy's masterpiece being crushed into approximately six hours, on this occasion, I completely suspend that criticism. The pacing here was incredibly fast, but the way the scenes were put together and juxtaposed was masterly. I was especially impressed with Adrian Edmondson, not usually my favourite actor, but who put in a performance as Count Ilya Rostov that I feel could possibly never be bettered. His slow psychological and physical disintegration in the face of his family's ruin was perfectly portrayed. By the end, when he was together with his wife in his final moments, you really could feel the innate goodness of the man and that he and his wife were, in reality two good hearted teddy bears whose world had collapsed around them, yet who in many ways retained their beautiful innocence even at the last.
And here I also want to praise this version in comparison to the 1973 version. Then you were not told explicitly about the ruin of the Rostov family. I did not realise that they had all gone to live with Princess Maria. Then, we saw Natasha with Maria, but I always assumed she was living there with the princess by herself in the wake of their developing friendship following Andrei's death. This time we actually saw the Rostov family ruined and living in a small flat. The reason for them going to the Bolkonsky's was made quite clear, as was the reason for Nicolai's discomfiture at possibly being thought of as a fortune hunter in consequence. This was all brilliantly handled and explained.
I also want to praise Tuppence Middleton. Her portrayal of Helene was here quite heartbreaking. I have said a lot of bad things about Helene's behaviour in previous posts. But the real genius of Tuppence Middleton's performance was to get you to actually feel something for her as the end neared. You really felt for her in her desperation and I, like Pierre, was really sad that she died alone and in pain, with no friends and no consolation. Nobody deserves that. As I said before in the context of her brother and Andrei - when all is finished, only love remains. So it was very nice to see Pierre making things up with Helene and Anatole's devastated father Prince Vasilli, whom we hope will now be a friend for life, bringing the old man consolation and peace, as it should be...
And now for something I thought I would never see on the BBC. Actual acknowledgement of the presence of something beyond this physical world. Prince Andrei's death was incredibly moving. Seeing him stood by the bed, looking at his body as he was passing to the next world was amazing, accompanied as it was by an intense light and meetings with his deceased wife Lise and his father. Music and image combined here to intense and beautiful effect. It made me cry. I've never seen it done so well and so completely truly. It will be hard to better...Natasha's question should haunt us all..."where has he gone?" In the beautiful answer to that question lies the transformation of us all...as Tolstoy knew so well...
Which brings me to Pierre. His transformation was superbly portrayed by Paul Dano. You really lived with him through his sufferings - his rescue of a child from a burning house - his defence of a woman from near rape by French soldiers - his near execution by firing squad - his imprisonment and finally the retreat from Moscow with the remnants of Napoleon's Grand Army. I want to mention here the very poignant presence of Platon's little dog Sachenka. She stayed with Platon after he was shot. You saw and felt the truth of eternal love here. It never deserts, always stays, always loves...even when night falls...
And I want finally to praise the end scene. This was in its totality one of the most beautiful and touching pieces of dramatic television that I think I will ever see. Pierre's words were so true about love and transformation and faith in the presence of apparent disaster. It is no surprise that in the ruins of the Ipatiev House, it was discovered that one of the last books the family was reading was...War and Peace. It's message spoke to them in their hour of darkness of light and eternal love. It speaks to us still today through this wonderful dramatic interpretation, as it will always do, hastening the final day when all men will be brothers and the world will know peace at last.
10/10. I hope it wins a hat-full of awards. I shall be first in line cheering them on. Bravo!
(many thanks to the BBC for the beautiful pictures I've used in these posts...)
Having said several times before that I have an issue with the thousand pages of Tolstoy's masterpiece being crushed into approximately six hours, on this occasion, I completely suspend that criticism. The pacing here was incredibly fast, but the way the scenes were put together and juxtaposed was masterly. I was especially impressed with Adrian Edmondson, not usually my favourite actor, but who put in a performance as Count Ilya Rostov that I feel could possibly never be bettered. His slow psychological and physical disintegration in the face of his family's ruin was perfectly portrayed. By the end, when he was together with his wife in his final moments, you really could feel the innate goodness of the man and that he and his wife were, in reality two good hearted teddy bears whose world had collapsed around them, yet who in many ways retained their beautiful innocence even at the last.
And here I also want to praise this version in comparison to the 1973 version. Then you were not told explicitly about the ruin of the Rostov family. I did not realise that they had all gone to live with Princess Maria. Then, we saw Natasha with Maria, but I always assumed she was living there with the princess by herself in the wake of their developing friendship following Andrei's death. This time we actually saw the Rostov family ruined and living in a small flat. The reason for them going to the Bolkonsky's was made quite clear, as was the reason for Nicolai's discomfiture at possibly being thought of as a fortune hunter in consequence. This was all brilliantly handled and explained.
I also want to praise Tuppence Middleton. Her portrayal of Helene was here quite heartbreaking. I have said a lot of bad things about Helene's behaviour in previous posts. But the real genius of Tuppence Middleton's performance was to get you to actually feel something for her as the end neared. You really felt for her in her desperation and I, like Pierre, was really sad that she died alone and in pain, with no friends and no consolation. Nobody deserves that. As I said before in the context of her brother and Andrei - when all is finished, only love remains. So it was very nice to see Pierre making things up with Helene and Anatole's devastated father Prince Vasilli, whom we hope will now be a friend for life, bringing the old man consolation and peace, as it should be...
And now for something I thought I would never see on the BBC. Actual acknowledgement of the presence of something beyond this physical world. Prince Andrei's death was incredibly moving. Seeing him stood by the bed, looking at his body as he was passing to the next world was amazing, accompanied as it was by an intense light and meetings with his deceased wife Lise and his father. Music and image combined here to intense and beautiful effect. It made me cry. I've never seen it done so well and so completely truly. It will be hard to better...Natasha's question should haunt us all..."where has he gone?" In the beautiful answer to that question lies the transformation of us all...as Tolstoy knew so well...
Which brings me to Pierre. His transformation was superbly portrayed by Paul Dano. You really lived with him through his sufferings - his rescue of a child from a burning house - his defence of a woman from near rape by French soldiers - his near execution by firing squad - his imprisonment and finally the retreat from Moscow with the remnants of Napoleon's Grand Army. I want to mention here the very poignant presence of Platon's little dog Sachenka. She stayed with Platon after he was shot. You saw and felt the truth of eternal love here. It never deserts, always stays, always loves...even when night falls...
And I want finally to praise the end scene. This was in its totality one of the most beautiful and touching pieces of dramatic television that I think I will ever see. Pierre's words were so true about love and transformation and faith in the presence of apparent disaster. It is no surprise that in the ruins of the Ipatiev House, it was discovered that one of the last books the family was reading was...War and Peace. It's message spoke to them in their hour of darkness of light and eternal love. It speaks to us still today through this wonderful dramatic interpretation, as it will always do, hastening the final day when all men will be brothers and the world will know peace at last.
10/10. I hope it wins a hat-full of awards. I shall be first in line cheering them on. Bravo!
(many thanks to the BBC for the beautiful pictures I've used in these posts...)