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The Mayor Of Casterbridge [2003]


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A fine interpretation of the Hardy masterpiece
Review date: 2008-09-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

A remarkable film, noteworthy for the skill with which it captures the grim, elemental force of the Hardy novel. Ciaràn Hinds, physically large, brooding and saturnine, is quite magnificent as the doom-laden Henchard, and succeeds brilliantly in making us see the "man of character" at the centre of the story as an object of pity every bit as much as a selfish man worthy of contempt. Jodhi May gives a sensitive and intelligent performance as Elizabeth Jane, and the rest of the acting is uniformly of a very high standard. This is a stark and disturbing tale, and the sense of unfolding tragedy is well conveyed by the cinematography, with its emphasis on dark interiors and on slightly menacing outdoor scenes illuminated by flat and subdued lighting. Just over three hours of barely unrelieved gloom will not be to everyone's liking, to put it mildly, but that's the nature of the novel and not the fault of the director, who has done a really excellent job in capturing the essence of Hardy's deeply moving masterpiece. Highly recommended.

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Reviews


yes.......but
Review date: 2008-02-15 Rating: 10 out of 10

this is a wonderful translation of the book but there is definite humour in Hardy and it has been almost completely omitted. For instance, there is a definite whiff of Dogberry in the constable's performance whilst giving evidence against the furmity seller. But it is overlooked in favour of a gloomier interpretation. It's one of several instances. Still gets five stars, though.

You can't get your life back
Review date: 2007-04-17 Rating: 8 out of 10

Drunkenly auctioning off your wife and baby is reason enough to despise someone, but the "Mayor of Casterbridge" gives us plenty of other reasons to despise and pity him. The A&E adaptation of Thomas Hardy's novel is an all-around solid one -- solid scripting, solid directing, solid acting from Ciarán Hinds and Jodhi May.

At a county fair, Michael Henchard (Hinds) gets drunk, and auctions his wife and baby daughter off to a kindly sailor. So he swears off booze for the next twenty-one years, and works hard to become a pillar of the community.

Nineteen years later, the sailor is lost at sea, and the wife Susan (Juliet Aubrey) and grown daughter Elizabeth Jane (Jodhi May) return to Casterbridge, and find that Michael has become the mayor and corporate head of the town. He's also incredibly sorry for what he did, and asks Susan to remarry him quietly so his crime never needs to be known. She does.

But Michael soon feels threatened by his brilliant new manager Donald Farfrae (James Purefoy), who is also falling in love with Elizabeth Jane. Michael's corporate power begins to slip, and when Susan dies he discovers a shocking fact about his daughter -- sending him into a spiral of lies, jealousy and misery.

Basically, it's all about watching someone's life go down the drain. There have been more complete adaptations of the Thomas Hardy novel, but this one is just fast-moving and tense enough to give it a feeling of urgency.

The big lesson: Henchard's life isn't wrecked because of alcohol, or even because he auctionied off his wife -- he ruins his own life with his lies, viciousness, and the ugly flaws that makes him try to control the people around him. It has some cute scenes between Purefoy and May in a rainy barn, but other than that it's a relentlessly dark movie.

The whole thing is set in a picturesque English village in a pretty green countryside. David Thacker doesn't neglect the nastier, grimier side of life, but he peppers the story with beautiful visuals (Elizabeth in the graveyard) and moments of merriment or friendship. Then they get ruined by confrontations with Henchard.

Hinds and May give the best performances here -- Hinds gives us a solid performance, as a man who tries to do the wrong thing, but is led astray by his temper. He can flip from miserable repentence to cold cruelty in a moment. And May gives a wonderfully sensitive performance as a confused young girl whose romance and job are derailed by her "father's" resentment.

"The Mayor of Casterbridge" is an all-around solid miniseries, with two really outstanding performances by May and Hinds. Melancholy and bittersweet.

Perfect - and the most erotic fully clothed scene in television history
Review date: 2007-03-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

This version of the Mayor of Casterbridge is pretty much flawless, to me. Ciaran Hinds is a brilliant Henchard - foolish, stubbornly jealous, self-ruinous (can you say that?) and yet still human. Jodhi May is undoubtedly one of our best actresses, and with the ever excellent James Purefoy gives us what must surely be the most erotic television moment (in the barn)I have ever seen, with not an inch of flesh in sight. I love it.

Tragic & Beautiful
Review date: 2005-08-03 Rating: 8 out of 10

This is without doubt an excellent production - beautifully acted by a fine cast, a work of art. Ciaran Hinds was magnificent as the tragic Michael Henchard and very strongly supported by Juliet Aubrey, Jodhi May, James Purefoy (with an authentic Scottish burr)and Polly Walker. Evocative of Hardy and the Wessex countryside he loved (down to the rather wet weather). Beautiful and so so sad, a three hankie job - but totally unmissable.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Jodhi May
James Purefoy
Polly Walker (II)
Ciarán Hinds
Juliet Aubrey

Creators:
Ciarán Hinds (Primary Contributor)
Juliet Aubrey (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Fremantle Home Entertainment
EAN: 5030697007643
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-01-19
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Running time: 198 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2003-08-17
Language: English (Original Language)

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