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The Girl

Michele Romeo | Du Bois, PA United States | 03/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A must see film! A few changes from the book but the characters and plot are wonderful! Hannah(Siobhan Flynn)you just root for from the begining to end. Hannah grows from a meek young girl to a splendidly beautiful woman. She overcomes many hardships and challanges in her quest for happiness. Ned Ridley(Jonathan Cake) is the very handsome and proud "bad boy" you just can't help but fall in love with. Who, unknown to Hannah, is her "knight in shining armor". The settings, costumes and scenery are beautiful as are Ned and Hannah! The English countryside is just breath taking in the film. All the cast is very convincing in their roles in the film. But, in the end, it's the casting of Hannah and Ned that makes you want to meet Siobhan Flynn and Jonathan Cake. I loved their preformance."

Interesting story & well-filmed, but not family friendly!

randomartco | Greater Washington D.C. area | 11/17/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This three-part miniseries is based on the book written by Catherine Cookson: it tells the story of "the girl", Hannah, who's ups and downs through life are followed in great detail, as she is left by her poor, dying mother with an upper class family. The man of the house, her "father", she calls fondly "Mister"...the woman of the house hates her fiercely, and refuses to call her by name: she makes Hannah work in the house like a servant, and refers to her always as "the girl"...

It's the story of life, love, and experience for one young woman who must learn the meaning of love & friendship.
For those of you worried about content: be aware that this film is like a period drama soap opera! There are instances of violence, scenes of adultery and premarital sex (although some inferred, some bits shown), a violent beating, quite a bit of blood (a butcher is a main character, although blood is also shown in an accident in the woods), etc.

All in all, it was fairly well done, well filmed and entertaining: just be aware that the storyline is not family-friendly: if you are a die-hard period film lover like me, you will want to watch it anyways, to learn more about the time period. This story gives you a peek into a different perspective on life in those times, than if it focused on the grandeur and ease of the upper class: that alone made this film a great peek into the realistic lives of the "normal" people of this era."

Very dark period piece........

retroredux | 03/25/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The Girl, based on a Catherine Cookson novel, is a period drama set in Victorian times. While the sets, costumes are actors are all exceptional, the story itself is one of the darkest and disturbing ones I've seen.

While in all probability more realistic to the times, Cooksons portrayal of a young girl, born on the "wrong" side of the bed, and her eventual life with her illegitimate father, and terribly sadistic stepmother is very hard to watch. Be forewarned-this is not a "family" film, as brutal beatings of children, forced sex, adultery, attempted murder, someones hand almost cut off in a "man trap", and many more throughly unpleasant scenes make up this mini series.

In the end, I found no characters worth any empathy, in fact the "heroine" herself becomes so sneaky and underhanded that I for one wished she would NOT end up with the hero at the end.

A depressing way to kill several hours and one I would not recommend.
1.5 stars for the sets and costuming."

Catherine Cookson has another masterpiece put to film.

sinjinia | mn, usa | 12/25/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a wonderful period peice with romance and adventure. It follows a young girl from the dealth of her mother to woman hood. It is a wonderful adaption and if you like period romances I couldn't recomend it high enough."