Yesterday's Children

Seen on French TV under the title "Les Ombres du Passé", and now available on DVD in France for under 6$, this is a highly worthwhile purchase ! Picture quality is excellent, and the story itself send shivers down your spine at times and at other moments fills you with orgasmic joy. Acting is first rate and the Irish countryside is beautifully filmed. The final "reunion" of the film filled me with an undescribable sense of joy. The story, though in the domaine of the paranormal is highly plausible, and we follow with pleasure and anticipation Jane Seymour's research of her Irish Family. I would highly recommend the film to anyone the least bit sentimental and who at the same time is fascinated by things para-normal! Excellent !

The book dealt with the reincarnation of Mary and how Jenny is compelled by the love and concern for her children felt the strong need to go back to her former family and how she finally brought the scattered family together. The film plays the reincarnation on a low key.This spoils the story and changes the full meaning of the main theme. The film ignores many important facts from the book.The book has a haunting grip on you and establishes many points in reincarnation. I cannot imagine Jenny Cockell allowing the changes that had been made to her story.

The priest plays a important role in the film whereas in the book he does not get involved in Jenny's research after the preliminary info. This does seem strange. The idea of Mary's spirit contacting Jenny does not get much importance in the book. I felt that the whole purpose of the book was lost in the film story. I do commend Jane Seymor on her moving performance.

I gave this a film an 8 because although it is beautifully done and acted and the locations scenery is superb, I object to how names and locations are changed when it is supposed to be factual. She should be Jenny Cockell in England ...not Jenny Cole in USA . WHY change it ? Jane Seymour gives a remarkable performance and as always knows how to act with her face as well as her words. The children in Ireland are beautifully evocative. Hume Cronyn makes an appearance ...But again ...why ? when there are so many Irish actors ? The main line for me seemed to be , ''yes, we believe that one soul can reach out and touch another''.

A lovely film that is truly unforgettable because of it's haunting and painful subject matter. Just let factual mean factual please!!

Looking back to a life which is partly your own and partly shared by people from another time stretches the imagination -- one has to feel for these desperate souls trying to relate, drawing a strong parallel with the struggles we go through in relating to those within our own lifetime; the notion of reincarnation allows us to feel and empathize with souls reaching across time, a wonderful concept whether you can accept the idea scientifically or not. Be brave... jump out of science and let your soul discover the light fantastic! The acting was fine, the pace was perfect, the location scenery was charming, and the characters were positively Shakespearian...the oldest son spoke with his eyes, even though he was very old and his body had almost died, and he made aging feel what it is...powerful, wise, understanding and compassionate, qualities in aggregate which youth can only reach toward.

What an incredible story. This is an excellent TV Movie inspired by a true story.

Two ladies, different times, lifestyles apart, but on the same extraordinary and quite inexplicable wavelength.

This does have some quite harsh and brutal domestic scenes which really make you feel for the main character.

A truly fascinating and very emotional tale. Jane Seymour is terrific and I highly recommend you take a look at this one.