My Mother and Other Strangers

... a slice of time, history and geography rolled into a brilliantly executed mini series. Yes - some will miss a solution, or a traditional ending - I don't and each of us will be asking ourselves how "we" would go on with the story.

However, the story was leaden with its pacing and I had difficulty staying interested in the story. Maybe it is because after I got it in my head that the lead actress had too many tics with her popping eyes and mouth twisting that it became too distracting. But that is my problem, not hers.

This is a lovely, thoughtful story. It is about a family in Ireland during the Second World War who have to contend with an American air base being set up adjacent to their quiet little village. The mother is the main focus of the story who is married to a simple but good man but she yearns for more. An American soldier who is in charge of maintaining a good relationship with the village lights a fire within her. The other characters such as her daughter add to the tale with her wakening to love and all it entails. The son is the narrator looking back across the years and told through the eyes of a child. As can be guessed the main theme is love with all its complications. There are other colourful characters like the townsfolk who struggle to deal with the American presence. The ending suggests there is more to come as we still need answers for the husband and the pub and the mother and the American.

To begin with the scenery is beautiful. I love being able to feel like I am part of the community there. Until this movie I didn't have any idea about Ireland and it's part in the Second World War. A somehow interesting plot with some good actors and a wonderful village in Ireland. Could have been better, could have been worse but in the end you won't regret it.

This story is a slow burn with subtle innuendo, not the brash in your face romance that typifies too many contemporary pieces.

For a magical experience, hang in there and find a sensitive portrayal of the power and complication of love and compatibility.

The best series I have watched for a very long time - It was captivated and glued to the screen, drawn into every small subtlety. Only genuine talent could create this from the screenplay, to the production to the acting.

So wished there was a Season 2 to find out what happened from here.

Bravo.