As a seasoned cinephile with a penchant for period dramas and a soft spot for family sagas, I must say that The Hardacres seems to be right up my alley. Having spent countless hours immersed in the intricacies of 19th-century society through works like Wilkie Collins’s novels, I find it intriguing when contemporary productions dare to reinterpret classic literature while maintaining its essence.
Hailing from the same group as All Creatures Great and Small, Channel 5’s upcoming historical series The Hardacres promises to offer a comforting viewing experience as we navigate through the chillier seasons ahead.
As a passionate film enthusiast, I’m eager to share that the captivating television series I’ve been following is loosely based on the first two books of CL Skelton’s Hardacre Family Saga. This compelling adaptation has been masterfully brought to life by the talented duo, Amy Roberts and Loren McLaughlan, who are renowned for their work on “The Winter King” and “Call the Midwife.
McLaughlan explained that their take on the books was more of an interpretation rather than a direct adaptation. The reason for this, he pointed out, was that one of the first changes they made was to shift the focus away from just Sam, as the books were heavily centered around him.
Initially, our vision was to create a family-oriented performance with an ensemble cast. Consequently, it became necessary to separate this production from Sam’s solo work. Our goal was to pair Sam and Mary as a team. Furthermore, we wanted to explore the theme of a thriving marriage, as such portrayals are relatively scarce on television.
“And then from that, it very naturally expanded out. There are two brothers, but they are very young in the books, so we needed to age them up a bit. We also needed to bring in more feminine energy, so that’s where the idea for [new characters] Ma and Liza came from. I think the family came to us very quickly actually.”
Roberts added: “Indeed, it does differ. A significant change from the book’s narrative is that Skelton frequently accompanies the Hardacres, watching as they accumulate their fortune gradually.
Instead, in our retelling, the Hardacres swiftly amass their wealth, and the tale primarily focuses on their struggle to adapt to this sudden prosperity rather than their journey to acquire it.
Regarding the tempo of the show compared to the novel, there’s quite a noticeable gap. As McLaughlan describes: “We’ve significantly reduced the pace. The initial book spans a vast period, while our series only takes place over a few months during the first season.
To fully explore the stories and individual paths of our central characters, Sam and Mary, we recognized that it was necessary to distance ourselves geographically from the original setting of the book. This shift allows us to emphasize their family experiences and expand their narratives.
The new show is labeled as an “audacious, courageous family drama with a lot of emotion,” and it’s about the Hardacres who transition from their ordinary lives working on a fish dock to suddenly being thrust into the elite circles of 1890s Yorkshire high society.
The actors featured in The Hardacres are Claire Cooper known for The Continental, Liam McMahon from Hunger, Julie Graham who starred in Time, Adam Little recognized from Ackley Bridge, Zak Ford-Williams well-known for Better, and debutant Shannon Lavelle.
In regards to the books being substantially altered for the upcoming series, director Rachel Carey mentioned: “I wasn’t familiar with the Hardacre novels at all. However, I am a great enthusiast of fiction from that period, such as Wilkie Collins and others. So, when I found out it was based on a book, my curiosity was piqued.
Instead of reading them immediately afterward, I chose not to because I was aware that the authors had made substantial changes to them. I preferred to concentrate more on the main script and less on additional background materials. Later on, I plan to take a look at them for my own enjoyment, comparing the original versions with the adapted ones.
She also mentioned: “In addition to enjoying an engaging tale set within a family’s adventure, I aspire for it to foster a sense of connection to history, and an understanding that while time moves forward, many aspects remain constant. People’s struggles and joys often persist across generations. My goal with The Hardacres is for the audience to identify with them and be left eagerly anticipating what transpires next.
The Hardacres begins on Channel 5 on Monday 7th October at 9pm.
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2024-10-04 17:33