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by Jennifer Alpeche Published: November 12, 2002
Presented as the premier and only original series for the 2002 season of "Masterpiece Theatre,” “The Forsyte Saga” will be completed in one more Sunday. However, we can already find out how the drama plays out on DVD. The box set for “The Forsyte Saga” includes six discs, offering two episodes a piece, sectioned into eight chapters per episode. A balanced and lovely presentation, Acorn Media Publishing has put together a gift set just in time for the holidays. Produced by Granada Television, “The Forsyte Saga” is based "The Man of Property" (1906) and "Chancery" (1920), the first two novels of John Galsworthy’s trilogy known as "The Forsyte Saga." The events of the third novel “To Let” (1921) will be explored in the second installment of episodes, which is in production now. That series will play in the United Kingdom and then eventually, make its way to “Masterpiece Theatre." A season I imagine many will look forward to. Although the original 1967 BBC version -- a 26-episode major event that launched “Masterpeice Theatre” into must-see TV -- remains in the hearts of many, I believe this version will likely win new fans and will certainly not offend anyone who favors the original. The story revolves around Somaes Forsyte (Lewis), a man of property, who has always gotten what he’s wanted in life and who never accepts no for an answer. If anything, rejection makes him all the more ardent in pursuit, which is exactly what Irene Heron (McKee) finds out after they first meet in Bournemouth. He is instantly drawn to her beauty and after only one meeting, proposes to her. But while he has made up his mind that they are a match, she is not as convinced. She declines his proposal. His reaction: “You are charming beyond words.” She finally marries him for practical reasons. This being Victorian England, Irene has no real alternative to marriage. She was not born to work for a living. Her stepmother forces her to decide and on a fateful day, she goes to Soames and tells him of her decision, agreeing to marry him on one condition: that he let her go if their marriage is not a success. Soames agrees and in truth would have agreed to anything, believing in his heart that their marriage could be nothing but successful. This of course does not turn out to be so, and it is their relationship that ends up affecting the entire Forsyte clan. “Of all people, it’s Soames who should carry on the family name.” Their marriage was seen as the start of a new era and the enormous pressure on Soames to produce a son is ever-present. But after two years of marriage, there are no children and Soames and Irene are unhappy. While one is still in love, still enchanted, the other is in utter depression. Yet they remain together. Eventually, her dislike grows to hate and nothing could make her see him any differently -- save letting her go. At the same time, she exercises a power over him. For years, even in separation, he is obsessed with her and wastes much of his life waiting for her to love him back. She disarms him and time and again we see Soames unable to deal with that reality. Despite his faults, he inspires our sympathies. The Forsyte family is full of characters, from gossips and snobs to artists and liberals. The family grows as the story progresses, with grandchildren being born and growing up. The Boer War and Queen Victoria’s passing serve as backdrops, as points in time that add to the drama of the Forsyte family's saga. Much of the success of the series is thanks to the wonderful acting of its star Damian Lewis (so good in "Band of Brothers"). Being of the privileged class, Soames believes money can buy anything -- even love and forgiveness. A painting, a necklace, a house. Lewis lets us see Soames’s side in his relationship with Irene and while we do feel sorry for her, we can sympathize with both. At times he seems lost, and it is when Soames is onscreen that the series moves at its swiftest pace. We can see his mind working, turning. We can feel his sadness with every rejection. From the way Lewis raised or lowered an eyebrow to the way he smoked a cigarette, he breathed life into the starched-shirt of Soames and made him much more than a repressed, controlling force hopelessly in love. At the end of the series, Soames has a wonderful, defining moment: a true smile, a true expression of bliss that he had never betrayed before. As Irene, Gina McKee had to go from cold and seemingly selfish to warm and comforting. With Soames, her character is a different person than when she is with others, such as Old Jolyon and later Young Jolyon. With them, she smiles and expresses a warmth of character that is lacking with Soames -- which is the point. But although we are told that Soames suffocated her, it seemed that oftentimes he was just trying to reach her. "You never laugh or smile with me like that." Producer Sita Williams noted that the Irene character was the most difficult to write because although she was to appear aloof and distant, they did not want to take her totally away form the audience. McKee's character grows more likeable as the series progresses once Irene and Soames are separated and living away from one another -- though stilll connnected. Special mention must be given to Corin Redgrave and Rupert Graves, who play Old and Young Jolyon Forsyte respectively. Their side of the family is outcast from Soames’s, but they never suffer. They are held together by love and understanding and refuse to follow conventions simply because. Their strength is also seen in Young Jolyon's first daughter June, played by Gillian Kearney. Amanda Root plays Soames’s loving sister, Winifred, who sadly marries a bounder. All of these actors, plus a few others, support the quality of this rich meloadrama. The only complaint I have as far as acting is in regards to the third generation of Forsytes, save June. The actors here take some getting used to and become a part of the story rather abruptly. Twelve years pass and the next thing we know, Jolly, Holly, Val, and Imogen are all grown up and having their own problems. But there's not enough time given to them for us to have any real connection. I cared more about their impact on their parents rather than their own dramas. As for the presentation of the series, it is presented in anamorphic widescreen format and the first thing I noticed was the color. Much brighter than the presentation on “Masterpiece Theatre,” the film version is crisper and colors stand out a bit more – although much of the costuming and sets are dark by design. Little things are noticed, such as dresses that I thought were black but are in fact dark green or dark burgundy. Damian Lewis’s hair is even a brighter red in the DVD version. The contrasts of light and dark are more pronounced. Also, a few scenes are edited differently, just a few seconds here and there cut from the PBS presentation. Presented as it was in the UK, the discs are divided into six episodes rather than the eight one-hour episodes we have seen in the United States. The episodes end in natural cliffhangers, rather than on a scene that might not be as spot on, but necessary for time's sake. There is also a 20-minute making-of featurette with Damian Lewis and Gina McKee talking about their characters, as well as about the appeal of a story like “The Forsyte Saga.” Fittingly, they are the only two actors who speak in the featurette. Also offering comments are producer Sita Williams, make-up designer Sue Milton, and set designer Stephen Fineren. We also get a behind-the-scenes photo gallery of 12 stills, a 13-page biography and book list for John Galsworthy, and brief cast biographies for the principal actors, including Lewis, McKee, Gruffudd, Graves, Redgrave, Kearney, and Root. Although this version, with only six (or eight) episodes cannot compare to the scope of the original series, it is a new retelling definitely worth watching. It has an energy to it and only slows down once in a while to catch its breath, regroup, and start again. As Damian Lewis points out, the series takes its time and develops a buildup to revelations and twists. This buildup is what keeps the story fresh, and with lovely costumes, well-done settings, and great actnig, The Forsyte Saga 2002 should not be missed. Especially considering that the second batch of episodes will be coming our way soon enough. Overall rating: B+ for the series, A- for the DVD. Next up: “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship for the Ring" (Special Edition) |
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