The Complete Forsyte Saga [DVD]

 

 

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For those of you who are very fond of the original black/white series, do not fear. This new adaptation takes nothing away from the beloved earlier version, but rather takes a fresh and modern look at the novel.

We begin in the late Victorian period with the Forsytes, a very rich and powerful family who appear to have it all on the outside, but underneath lies deceit, betrayal, unhappiness and affairs.

Young Jolyon Foryste (Rupert Graves) is stuck in a loveless marriage with only his young daughter, June, as his happiness. When Jolyon falls in love with his daughter's nanny and leaves his wife, he is cast out by his father, Jolyon Forsyte Sr (Corin Redgrave brilliantly cast) and left to live in poverty.

Years later, Jolyon Sr is now looking after his beloved granddaughter, June (Gillian Kearney) and has come to deeply regret his estrangement with his son.
As he tries to rebuild a relationship lost, meanwhile the story now has shifted focus to the other side of the family - to Jolyon Sr's brother, James Forsyte, and his son Soames and daughter Winifred.

Young Soames (Damian Lewis), a solicitor attached to his father's business, has been brought up to think that men have higher rights over women and that people should follow codes of honor and duty.
When he meets pretty Irene (Gina McKee) he instantly becomes infatuated by her. Despite her reservations and concerns, Irene is pushed into marrying Soames for security. However she soon finds herself suffocated by a lonely marriage, after Soames becomes possesive and overbearing.
As her hatred towards her husband grows, tensions arise within the Forsytes, and tragedy ensues when Irene embarkes on a passionate affair with June's fiancee, the handsome Phillip Bosinney (Ioan Gruffudd).

The second series continues to be as addictive and enthrawling as the first, with a new generation of Forsyte's taking centre stage just as the 19th century unfolds - bringing with it new fashions, art, music and technology.
As the years roll by, cracks appear across the whole family when Forsytes fall in love with other Forsytes, money is gambled away, affairs ruin friendships, and a whole generation of old and new come and go.

The Forsyte Saga is an exciting and addictive drama that you never want to end. The acting and casting is superb. Rupert Graves and Damian Lewis in particular shine in their roles, the supporting cast (including Gillian Kearney, Amanda Root and Ben Miles) and later in the second series the two young leads (Emma Griffiths Malin and Lee Williams) are brilliant and the bright costumes and locations just adds to the perfection.

The only thing I would say I didnt like was the casting of Irene (Gina McKee). McKee is without a doubt a brilliant actress, and here she does well, but she doesn't look the part. I don't see why Soames and her future lovers, including Phillip Bosinney, would be so infatuated by her. She is not especially 'attractive and beautiful', as she is constantly described and her portrayal is also very under stated.

However If you love period romances and dramas, then this modern Forsyte Saga complete series is for you!

The 2002/2003 Forsyte Saga version of John Galsworthy's novels, starring Damian Lewis, Gina McKee, Amanda Root, Colin Redgrave and Rupert Graves, is a Granada and WGBH Boston co-production. Although, many would label the series a remake of the 1967 BBC version, it is not. This is a free adaptation of Galsworthy's three novels and two interludes (The Man of Property, Indian Summer of a Forsyte, In Chancery, Awakening and To Let). The saga chronicles the lives of an upper-middle-class British family, from the beginning of the 19th century to the 1930s. Directed by Andy Wilson, produced by David Boulter and Sita Williams and adapted by Kate Brooke and Phil Woods, the Forsyte saga is definitively a saga that shakes things up. In two discs and ten episodes, we will follow the story of Soames Forsyte (Damian Lewis) - a rich solicitor who pictures himself as the family's upholder of moral values - and other characters. Soames also has a genuine gift for always saying or doing the wrong thing, at the wrong time and to the wrong person. Which he does when he marries Irene Heron (Gina McKee - astonishingly beautiful). Unfortunately, it will take him almost the ten episodes to realize that. Meanwhile, we follow the busy lives of the other Forsytes, their ups and downs and the way they relate to the family's values (money, possessions, power), especially when confronted with those of no-property (Irene, young Jolyon, Bosinney, Jon and at times, the old Jolyon too). The interesting thing about this saga is the way it deals with its own subject matter. When we might expect a traditional costume drama, with one-dimensional characters, the saga is actually everything but predictable. In fact, the complexity of the characters - Soames being the most tortured and troubled one - is well-rendered in the visual style of the series, oscillating between long and close-up shots, between old fashion feels and boundary-cross scenes of intimacy. Nothing is completely what it seems, people often wear masks, yet underneath the facade they too experience passions, betrayals and violent impulses and got dragged into intrigues. There is a sense of modernity alongside the Victorianism, an outsider view of bourgeoisie, which gives away Galsworthy's own experience of playing both sides, so to speak. There have been rumours that Galsworthy put a lot of his own life into Soames and Irene characters, as a way of settling scores with his oppressive class, the way he had to live a painful double life with his beloved mistress Ada Nemesis Pearson Cooper, whom he would eventually marry, despite the family's disapproval. If anything, Galsworthy/Irene/young Jolyon are daring 'characters', jumping out of the cosy nest in the name of love. Of course, there is a terrible price to pay for that, but who said life ought to be easy and pleasant? Perhaps, this is why I enjoyed the 2002/2003 Forsyte Saga so much. While much of the story is about possessions, and all the silly things they make you do, I still can relate to these characters (especially Irene). Its language and concerns are modern enough to make you part of the story, to identify perhaps with some of the flawed characters. Shot almost entirely near Manchester, the Forsyte Saga is a delight for both the eye and the heart. The four disc box-set comprises the ten episodes, along with English and HOH English subtitles. There is an interactive menu for a total running time of 699 minutes. Lastly, a special treat with the main theme soundtrack interpreted by Bryn Terfel (Life is a Dance We Must Learn). I don't know for you folks, but at the end of the saga, I felt nothing but the pressing need of letting go things and enjoy just being here. Zen and all that...

The Forsyte Saga is so much more than just a period drama- it encapsulates a bygone time in its sweeping satire of Victorian family life and class values.

The plot focuses on the two conflicting sides of the Forsyte family, the children of elderly brothers James and Jolyon. Firstly, we have the open-minded but principled Jolyon Jnr (Graves). Having married a woman he did not love, Jolyon finds himself falling for Helene Hilner, his young daughter June's governess. When he commits the then scandalous act of leaving his wife for Helene, Jolyon is cut off by his father, Jolyon Snr (a perfectly cast Corrin Redgrave), and the rest of the family. Jolyon sets out to make a living with his artistic talents while he and Helene have two children, Holly and Joly. Years pass, and Jolyon Snr, now June's guardian, comes to regret his estrangement with his son, and seeks to make amends.

The other focus of the plot is on James's son, Soames (Lewis). Soames, the strictly proper but repressed 'man of property' meets and falls in love with the captivating and free-thinking Irene Heron, an orphan whose materialistic stepmother virtually forces reluctant Irene (Gina McKee) into marriage with him. Despite her friendship with Winifred (the charming Amanda Root) Soames's sister, and the now grow-up June, Irene just can't reconcile herself to this unsuited marriage and her controlling husband. When June's free-spirited architect fiance, Philip Bossiney (Gruffyd), arrives on the scene commissioned by Soames to build a country retreat for Irene and him, Irene realises what she's been missing and embarks on a dangerous affair that ends in tragedy and destruction.

The second series, To Let, focuses on the relationship between Jolyon's youngest son, Jon, and Soames's only child, his beloved Fleur. Set after WWI in the decadent 20s, the Forsyte family are still a constant force despite the changes that have wracked society. These star-crossed lovers who are determined to be together at any cost inadvertantly force their parents to confront their pasts, but can their relationship survive the revelations that ensue? Fleur, who begins as an indulged and coquettish beauty, is grounded and softened by suffering into acceptance that money cannot buy everything. One is left feeling that she will be happy despite this. Again, this saga follows on the themes of love, posession, loss, and the salvaging of something good from past wrongs and hurts, not just for the Forsyte family, but for society in England after the first World War.

But the Forsyte Saga shows life goes on and is touching, charming and humerous despite the grimmer aspects of the plot. The plot is much more three-dimensional than the synopsis I've just given, and the simplistic idea of heroes, victims and villains is much more carefully dealt with. The beauty of this production is that is encapsulates human flaws and the innate spirit of human goodness and redemption utterly. Damien Lewis deserves a wealth of credit for his portrayal of Soames, a much more complicated and understandable character that at first sight.

My only concern with the casting was that of Gina McKee as Irene. I felt that she wasn't quite alluring and captivating enough, in every aspect, to be as desired as she is in the book. I felt McKee played her slightly too aloofly, although she warmed up during the second half. The rest of the cast are, rarely, all excellent. Rupert Graves gives the performance of a lifetime as the Rosetti-like Jolyon Jnr, Amanda Root is perfect as the warm-hearted, witty and hard-done-by Winifred, and Ben Miles as her loveable ne'er do well husband provides much humour to the storyline. Barbara Flynn gives a great performance as Soames's and Winifred's loving and loyal mother, Emily, and Gillian Kearney is fabulous as the impassioned and compassionate June, who matures as the saga unfolds. Of the second series, Emma Griffiths Malin deserves credit for her performance of Fleur, and Oliver Milburn is humerous, charming and sincere as her 'consolation prize'.

This is one period drama that should not be missed. Utterly enjoyable, lavishly produced and a real gem.

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1.0 out of 5 stars Why?
A major disappointment, compared with the full length B/W BBC series. By the time I got to the end of this one, I wondered why anyone had bothered. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Pandora Amos

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
I have found this an excellent video, very well acted although not completely faithful to the novels. I hope they will realize also the remaining parts. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Sergio Castagnino

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding !
Absolutely the best English series of it's kind ! Thrilling, with plenty of drama! Hugh Laurie (House) as you have never seen him before.

Published 3 months ago by Shane Cawley

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellant Enterntainment
If you like period dramas this is excellant entertaiment and very good value for money - the format is widescreen unlike some other versions

Published 4 months ago by B. C. Woodman

3.0 out of 5 stars Good period drama
The first three episodes are splendid. The it slowed down quite "a bit" for the next thee episodes, when it "picked up" nicely again. Read more

Published 6 months ago by HiFiMan

5.0 out of 5 stars A televisual experience!
An excellent version of this classic saga. The acting is faultless and the characters well cast. The costumes, scenery and settings are brilliant. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Linda

5.0 out of 5 stars Forsyte Saga
Great DVD.I know it was long but didn't seem that as I watched it long after I should have been in bed!! Kept me entertained for three nights in a row. Read more

Published 12 months ago by Mrs. Lena Newlands

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
We really enjoyed this adaptation of the Forsyte Saga. The actors did a good job, there were not many unnecessary scenes, Corin Redgrave was superbe as Jolyon, and Gina Mckee... Read more

Published 13 months ago by Sharada

2.0 out of 5 stars Watchable, but not convincing.
The core to this story is the relationship between Soames and Irene. Soames is meant to be a possessive husband who dominates and controls the beautiful, artistic, young Irene. Read more

Published 13 months ago by G. M. J. Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars 10/10 for the Forsyte Saga
Having never seen this series before but hearing great things about it, I decided to buy it for a family member for Christmas 2010. It did not disappoint! Read more

Published 13 months ago by Seawanderer

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