Fortunes Of War
The Baltics, 1939. British professor Guy Pringle (Kenneth Branagh) arrives in Romania with his new bride, Harriet (Emma Thompson) and becomes enmeshed in the politics of anti-fascism. Despite Harriet's serious misgivings, Guy's social circle soon includes members of the British Secret Service who want to involve him in dangerous missions, and a downtrodden prince who zeroes in on Guy's generous nature and winds up living with the Pringles. Thus the stage is set for this mesmerizing story of marriage tested by accidental betrayal, callous insensitivity, and a world in upheaval. Based upon the autobiographical novels of best-selling author Olivia Manning, and set in places as far-flung as Bucharest, Athens and Cairo, Fortunes of War is majestic in both its scope and its vision.
Member Reviews
Value for money - anglophonequebec
This disc is two-sided, with 7 55 minute episodes (contrary to Zip's blurb). The cast is tight and well-qualified, starting with the young Emma Thompson and an even younger Branagh. It moves from Bucharest to Athens to Cairo as a community of British ex-pats tries to stay one step ahead of the Nazis. There are zany moments of entire britishness such as an amateur production of Trolius and Cressida and a recurring attempt to stage a Bryon lecture by a fuddy aristocrat don. The atmosphere of the forties is well recreated, the dialog is tight, and no subplot is left unturned.Terrific Mini-Series - ScarletAngel
I rented this movie to see how Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson met and found it to be much better than expected. The storyline was involving even though the locations changed three times over the seven hours. I was spell bound. All in all, terrific cast, terrific locations, terrific storylines, terrific all round show. I liked it so much I bought the DVD.
Member Reviews
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Value for money - anglophonequebec
This disc is two-sided, with 7 55 minute episodes (contrary to Zip's blurb). The cast is tight and well-qualified, starting with the young Emma Thompson and an even younger Branagh. It moves from Bucharest to Athens to Cairo as a community of British ex-pats ...Terrific Mini-Series - ScarletAngel
I rented this movie to see how Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson met and found it to be much better than expected. The storyline was involving even though the locations changed three times over the seven hours. I was spell bound. All in all, terrific cast, ...