Promising Period Films: Part One



Sprinkled here and there in the midst of Hollywood blockbusters and 1980's film remakes are some really promising period films. What is not to love about a story set in the past?

The Book Thief is based on a novel by the same name by Markus Zusak, we follow the life of a little girl named Liesel. The film tells her story from the beginning to the end of World War II. The Angel of Death is the one who shares the remarkable story of Liesel and how in the process of learning how to read (and eventually consume books on a regular basis) she changes the lives of those around her.

Belle was inspired by the 1779 painting of  Dido Elizabeth Belle and her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray. Dido's father was Sir John Lindsay and her mother was an African slave named Maria Belle. Very little is known about Dido's life so this film is a work of fiction but it does attempt to recreate what her life may have been like.

The Invisible Woman is set in the late 1800's and tells the story about Charles Dickens and his secret mistress named Ellen Ternan who was 27 years younger. The Dickens family was stayed silent about his long standing affair with the younger Ellen until his youngest child passed on in 1933.

In Secret is set in 1860s Paris and tells the story of a Therese, repressed young woman who is encouraged to marry to sickly cousin. When she meets her husband's friend Laurent, they begin a illicit affair that ends with great tragedy and torment. Watching the previews  of this film sent a chill through my bones!

The Monuments Men is based on a non-fiction book called The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and The Greatest Treasure Hunt in History (which I am super eager to read!) by Robert M. Edsel. Set during WWII, it follows an allied group who are given the job to save art and other important cultural artifacts before Hitler could destroy them.

So which films are you eager to see more than others? I definitely want to see them all at some point. Personally I am leaning towards The Book Thief and The Monuments Men. I have to wait to see the others when I am in a mood for romance mixed with tragedy and suffering. I really have to be in a certain mood for those. How about you?


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6 comments :

  1. I saw Monuments Men last week and loved it! I'd read a few disappointing reviews so was a bit unsure if to even go but I'm so glad I did! I hadnt heard about in secret but it sounds really interesting I'd really like to see that one! I'd also like to recommend 'Railway Man' its another WW2 one but this time looking at the P.O.W who built the railway through Burma. It was heartbreaking but wonderful! xx

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  2. Thanks for sharing these. The Invisible Woman, I can't wait to see.

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  3. I can't wait to see The Book Thief!!!

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  4. I'm looking forward to seeing The Book Thief as it's one of my favourite books, so I'm interested to see how they deal with it.

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  5. We saw Monuments Men a couple of weekends ago and it was all I could do to not shoot out of my sheet at the end and give it a standing ovation. It's in my top 25 favourite modern movies ever now for sure.

    ♥ Jessica

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  6. I've been looking forward to In Secret and The Invisible Woman. I haven't seen anything about Belle, but now I'm intrigued!

    Ivy

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