The Devil's Whore is a new civil war drama that started on Channel 4 last night. You can read more about it here. I have been looking forward to this more than most of the Autumn TV.
It's written by Peter Flannery who wrote Our Friends in the North. He has apparently been working on this story since 1997 which shows dedication to the narrative and ideas.
One of my main reasons to be so interested is the English civil war gets far less treatment in terms of film, television and wider influence than the French revolution some one hundred and twenty years later. Obviously the French revolution has a certain je ne sais quoi that we can't quite compete with but this new adaptations goes some way to making things more interesting- and the scenery is stunning (although apparently south african for budgetry reasons- eek- well it doubles well).
The civil war is one of England's most radical episodes. We were really quite ahead of ourselves with ideas about democracy and equality, granted it all came to nothing in the end and, as with all the best ideologies, it got used for individual gain. I am very fond of the royals and I wouldn't really want President Brown/ Blair/ Thatcher so perhaps it did all end well but there is no denying that the revolutionaries were onto something.
The first episode was really rather good, granted there were some slightly special special effects involving visions of the devil, but I liked that Cromwell was quite sidelined in this telling, so far. I prefer to see things from a slight side view (and Cromwell has had his fair share of air time).
I was also actually very taken with the ladies fashion (the less said about the men's facial hair the better I think). Really this period wouldn't get me going but they have dressed Andrea Riseborough in some fabulous blues with shots of red and all the clothes are of the most rippling and tumbling silks and velvet with touches of leather. Everything looks to smell of newly died leather, gunpowder and woods.
Next week she seem to be working cross dressing/ female bandit chic. There is also a wealth of earnst men for her to get involved with. I can't wait!
Picture cortesy of Channel 4
Hello - I discovered your blog recently through Perfume Shrine I think and I'm afraid have just been lurking and enjoying. However I had to comment after your review of the first episode of TDW. The Civil War period (and the consequent Restoration) is fascinating to me. I'm rather proud of the fact that we had our revolution quite early and its resolution, being neither one thing nor the other, I think is peculiarly English. The French are welcome to theirs - we started it ;-) On a more shallow note, I adore the fashion of the period and reading the interview with Andrea Riseboroug I was interested to learn that she used perfume as a way of connecting with her character as she plays her through different ages. Thanks for a lovely blog and I hope you resolved your email wait yesterday happily. donanicola
ReplyDeleteOh Rose I am so jealous right now of you get all these wonderful period pieces. I hope this makes it over to the US.
ReplyDeleteHi Donanicola,
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad you've been reading the blog and thanks for de-lurking!
That is really interesting that Andrea Riseborough was using scent as part of her characterisation- I wish more actors would give us more information when they do this- it makes so much sense to me to assign a character a scent or scents.
I thought Andrea gave a great performance. Her costumes and hair were fabulous, lucky girl!
Well the e-mail is as resolved as it's going to be for now I think!
Hope to hear from you again
Hi Jena,
ReplyDeleteSorry! I don't mean to make you jealous, I hope you do, I think you might as Dominic West from The Wire plays Cromwell and he seems popular.
Definitely look out for it, so far it's really enjoyable, quite different but in a good way.
Also definitely look out for Little Dorrit which I'm sure will be on BBC America, I'm really enjoying it.
Hi Rose- With a name like "The Devil's Whore" I would have expected something like Spring Awakening! lol
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great- it will probably make its way to the US as we all love an English period drama...
Hi Daily
ReplyDeleteIt does sound quite racy doesn't it!
Yes hope you get it- this was just the first episode so hopefully it will continue to be good.
Rose, I know that Little Dorrit will be making its way over here.
ReplyDeleteHi Jena- yay! so far it's been really good, although it's hard not to miss episodes.
ReplyDelete