***Complimentary copy received in exchange for an honest review***
A must-see for costume drama fans, the lavish adaptation of Tolstoy’s classic, War and Peace, debuts on DVD from Acorn on September 24, 2013. Featuring a stellar ensemble cast including Clémence Poésy (Fleur Delacour in Harry Potter series, October’s Last Love opposite Michael Caine), two-time Oscar®-nominee Brenda Blethyn (Vera), Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) and Ken Duken (Inglourious Basterds, The Sinking of the Laconia), the gripping tale of passion and politics brings the timeless epic to life as it follows a circle of aristocrats who find their glittering world crumbling as war threatens imperial Russia. Filled with exquisite costumes, beautiful sets, and outstanding production values, this magnificent international production was filmed on location in Russia and Lithuania by Oscar®-nominated director Robert Dornhelm. The program aired in Belgium and France in 2007 but was never available in the U.S. until debuting on “Best British TV” streaming service Acorn TV in July 2013 (DVD 2-disc set, 4 episodes, $49.99, AcornOnline.com).
Set during Napoleon’s invasion of Russia,
War and Peace follows the changing fortunes of brooding military hero Prince Andrej (Alessio Boni,
Caravaggio, The Tourist), his bookish friend Pierre (Alexander Beyer,
Good Bye Lenin!, Munich), and the spirited but naïve Natasha (Clémence Poésy).
As Napoleon’s armies menace their privileged lives, the horrors of the
battlefield reach into the elegant ballrooms and bedrooms of Moscow.
Street: Sept. 24, 2013
SRP: $49.99
UPC: 0-54961-2111-9-7
DVD 2-Disc Set: 4 episodes; approx. 425 min.; SDH subtitles
My Thoughts
While in my mind, it would be impossible for any film to compete with the mastery of the novel version of War and Peace, this movie comes close. War and Peace is set during the invasion of Russia by Napoleon's army. Both the elaborate costumes and the beautiful settings are a realistic depiction of this time period that really make you feel you stepped back in time and into the aristocratic life old world Russian. The cast couldn't have been more perfect. Alessio Bono and Alexander Beyer really brought Prince Andrej and Pierre to life with their stunning performances. I especially enjoyed Clemence Poesy's touching depiction of Natasha. Even the background music is beautiful and fitting. The whole movie draws you into a world filled with a mixture of passion and politics as four families struggle though Napoleon's invasion. While they face many horrors on the battlefield, there is also a great balance of romance.
While some scenes and a lot of great dialogue had to be cut for the sake of time, the main points are all there as are the lessons Tolstoy meant to convey.This is a beautiful mini-series that is well worth the time and the investment to watch. Anyone who enjoys a book historical movie or especially anyone whose read the book is going to want to grab a copy of this DVD. Find it online at Acorn Media for only $49.99.
***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way.***
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