On Thursday, I gave a personal view of Britain as a place of soullessness and evil. I don't really have anything to add to that at the moment, except that it has prompted me to look up again what has to be one of the best drama series ever broadcast in the history of television, GBH by Alan Bleasdale. Rewatching it now, some sixteen or seventeen years after it was first screened, I can only say that I am amazed at how well it has stood the test of time. You might imagine that a drama series so concerned with the politics of Thatcher era might have dated by now, but the story is so beautifully formed that neither the politics nor the personal stories of which that politics is woven have dulled over the years. In fact, I find this to be peculiary prophetic piece of drama, though it was about the time in which it was made, and not an attempt to predict the future.
I would urge anyone who has not seen it either to get hold of a copy of the DVDs, or watch it on Youtube, if your eyes will take it, where it has been uploaded, starting from here. I'm not going to comment or analyse. Too much to do today, and it's probably best if I leave you to find out for yourself, anyway.
Actually, what occurs to me is that the comparisons made with Dickens are very appropriate. All the usual costume nonsense you see enacted as Dickens isn’t Dickens. This is what Dickens looks like televised.
Rather harsh, :eyes: but true non-the-less
Harsh? To the usual costume drama, you mean? I suppose I should point out that I like Dickens, but I’ve never really seen a TV or film version that seems to me to capture what the books are really like. They seem to make them as if every novel he wrote was A Christmas Carol. So, I suppose I am being harsh to those, intentionally, but not to Dickens or to GBH.
I agree entirely, especially with the ”Christmas Carol” stereotyping. There are so many gr8 directors out there too, but not one can create an original and true Dickens style, it seems. Rather sad really, where’s all the inspiration gone these days?
I wonder who would make a good Dickens director. That’s got me to thinking. Hmmm. No name comes to mind at the moment. I’ll have to ponder this.
I’d be interested to hear your conclusion on that one too. 2b honest i’m not sure….
Still thinking…
Oh no!!! I’ve just realised the last two episodes of GBH haven’t been uploaded onto Youtube yet. I’ll just have to get the DVDs, unless they’re uploaded soon.
You know, I’m still drawing a blank. The only name I can think of is Mike Leigh, but he famously doesn’t work with a script, so he’s probably out. Also, maybe he’s not quite right either. Or maybe we could come at this from leftfield and say something like the Coen brothers.
:confused:Answers on a postcard for this one, I think Q.