Description: It’s August 1939 and five cousins gather at their uncle’s big house on the Cornish coast. The imminence of war charges the air as they frolic on the fragrant lawn and tempt fate on the terrifying cliffs that one last sultry summer. Returning to the house nearly half a century later for a funeral, they recall how the war rearranged their lives and brought them suffering, sex, and love.
This lusty, darkly humorous drama reunites Good Neighbors co-stars Felicity Kendal and Paul Eddington. Also starring Jennifer Ehle (Pride and Prejudice), Tara Fitzgerald (Brassed Off!), Rosemary Harris, Claire Bloom, and Nicholas le Prevost. Faithfully adapted from Mary Wesley’s beloved novel by Ken Taylor, who also adapted The Jewel in the Crown for television.
Amazon.com: Immensely popular when originally broadcast on Britain's Channel Four in 1992, The Camomile Lawn offers ample proof that British TV drama rises well above American TV in terms of sophistication, maturity, and literary influence. Faithfully adapted by Ken Taylor (The Jewel in the Crown) from the novel by Mary Wesley, this five-part wartime drama bears some thematic and structural resemblance to The Big Chill (in both films, a burial serves as a reunion for long-time friends) and chronicles a variety of secrets, lies, and passions among a close-knit group of relatives in Cornwall, just as World War II begins in 1939. The funeral that frames this fond reminiscence takes place in 1984, and it sparks fond memories of "the Camomile Lawn" at the cliff-side home of Aunt Helena and Uncle Richard (Felicity Kendal and Paul Eddington, reunited from the hit Brit-com Good Neighbors), so named because its fresh scent is a reminder of happier times before the war. Among the five cousins whose lives are deeply affected by the war, the dramatic focus remains on young Sophy (superbly played by Rebecca Hall, and in later scenes by Claire Bloom) and the deliberately mercenary Calypso (Jennifer Ehle), who marries for money and finds love--or at least sex--with whomever she pleases while her husband's away in battle.
For a series that features ample nudity, sexual indiscretions, and surprisingly frank treatments of alcoholism, adultery, and rape, The Camomile Lawn remains entirely respectable in the way it weaves passion and pain into a cohesive, engrossing drama, rich in humor and humanity while discreetly handling less savory aspects of its characters' behavior. Also featuring Claire Bloom and Tara Fitzgerald (Brassed Off) in one of her earliest starring roles, the series develops its characters so effectively that the emotional impact of the war becomes a powerful bond between them, and we experience their joys and sorrows as intensely as they do. Best of all, Taylor's teleplay is blessed by abundant wit and humor--the best defense against the melancholy of war--and director Peter Hall guides his stellar cast with impeccable attention to details of character and context. The result is a very satisfying and richly authentic portrait of privileged England on the brink of war and personal tragedy, imbued with a resilient richness of spirit. A screen-text biography of author Mary Wesley is included (she was already in her seventies when her first novel was published), along with cast and crew filmographies. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - the camomile lawn
Marvellously acted. A very saucy story with a great deal of humour.
Jennifer Ehle was outstanding and Paul Eddington irritating but played his
part to perfection.
Rating: - ENTERTAINING
Wonderful good actors, specially Toby Stephens and Jennifer Ehle (big fan of the 2). Entertaining period movie, with family love and unity abounding. Still "love" comes out of this movie (Calypso's love ... Read More
Rating: - A stellar cast makes for an engaging period drama
My grand aunt recommended Mary Wesley's books to me recently and I was quickly engaged by her well-written stories. When I learned that The Camomile Lawn had also been adapted for TV, I knew I had to watch ... Read More
Rating: - One on the best British mini-series of the 1990s
The Camomile Lawn was one of the best UK mini-series of the 1990s. It's fun and beautifully written. It's a family drama set during the early years of World War II. The friends, are mostly 18 or 19 and join ... Read More
Rating: - This was on Television?
I inititally wanted to watch this for one main reason -- I'm a huge fan of Felicity Kendal, and the chance to see her in something with her former "Good Neighbors" co-star Paul Eddington was especially intriguing. ... Read More
- the camomile lawn
- ENTERTAINING
- This was on Television?