Lilies (Acorn Media/British TV Drama Mini-Series)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C     Episodes: B

 

 

Another nice surprise in a sea of mixed imports of late from British TV is the recent British TV Mini-Series Lilies, focusing on the trials and tribulations of three sisters in Liverpool during the 1920s.  WWI has just ended, but the clean-up and reorganization of life has just begun.  The Moss Family is the focus of the seven episodes, especially the daughters whose father refers to them by the title of the series.  They have a brother just returned from the war with problems and a father who is as haunted by the mother’s passing as anyone.

 

Writer/creator Heidi Thomas has created a world very thorough, palpable, lively and rich, making this more than just more stuffy British TV.  If anything, it almost subverts the idea of the suffering woman during the classic golden days of such British TV, though far from being radical.  It is potentially star-making for Kerrie Hayes, Leanne Rowe and Catherine Tyldesley.  Sure, this has its melodramatic moments, but is often honest enough about the time and people to overcome some of its soap opera trappings.  I am surprised this does not have more buzz already, but DVD should help to change that.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image looks like it was shot in digital High Definition with detail issues, muted color and definition limits that should not be there.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has some Pro Logic surrounds, is nicely recorded and dialogue is solid enough.  Extras include a behind the scenes featurette, stills and text cast filmographies.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo