Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Clemence Poesy, Matthew Goode, Richard Madden, Joseph Mawle
Running Time: 164 minutes approx
Certificate: 15
Extras: War Story, Love Story, On Set Featurettes
The BBC have never been a corporation to take risks, and in adapting Sebastian Faulks 1993 novel BIRDSONG to a two-part mini-series it was appealing to the two million or so that have purchased it. But how would it fair to an audience with no knowledge of the characters and the story?
BIRDSONG begins with a single shot of Stephen Wraysford (Redmayne) in a World War One trench; cut to Amiens, France 1910 Wraysford is introduced to a family he will be living with whilst on a business trip from London. During part one we meet the lead protagonists Wraysford and Isabelle (Poesy) as they embark on their love affair, whilst jumping to 1916 and the height of World War One when Lieutenant Wraysford is leading his men to the Somme.
There are many problems with the first part of BIRDSONG one being its failure to introduce the lead characters effectively; they fall in love whilst exchanging only a few glances and the odd word, we are lead to believe they love each other but it is hard to get past the feeling they might just be a bit randy. Added to this, Wraysford and Isabelle are not particularly likeable. Isabelle is difficult to relate to because of her lack of dialogue and interaction with other characters, being portrayed as a hollow shell, whilst Wraysford is too smug and arrogant to garner feelings. The final problem here – and this is a biggie – is it’s really dull with 84 minutes of lingering camera interspersed with the odd bit of talking it makes a hard case for the second part.
With any story, no matter how bad, a good end can always save it BIRDSONG is an example of this. Where the first part fell down the second excels. It has a couple of great performances from Richard Madden as Captain Weir and Joseph Mawle as Jack Firebrace who give proceedings some heart. Added to this, the genuine love you feel Wraysford has for Isabelle you have a great piece of drama. The ending is excellent, the very last scene I can take or leave, but the ten minutes or so before is excellent storytelling with a particularly poignant pay-off.
Hampered by a poor fist part but saved by an interesting second BIRDSONG is a satisfying watch though not the essential piece of TV the BBC would have liked.
Extras: A couple of nice featurettes but nothing of any note.
BIRDSONG is available on Blu-ray and DVD now
Birdsong – BBC production – Out on Blu-Ray from 12th March 2012 from Kevin Durham on Vimeo.
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