Another selection from The Guardians top 50 shows of 2021 was "The Pursuit of Love", a fresh adaptation of the Nancy Mitford novel which has already been done twice to some acclaim by the BBC. I thought during the first episode that this wasn't really going to be my thing, "Sunday night" costume drama often isn't, but I persevered and eventually it won me over.
At the start of the 20th Century, two cousins who grew up more like sisters, Fanny (Emily Beecham) and Linda (Lily James) begin their adult lives. Responsible, and scarred by her mother's abandonment, Fanny settles down with Alfred (Shazad Latif). Linda though is in search of passion, and her pursuit of love takes her from the British to the French aristocracies, via a spell invested in the communist battle against rising fascism. Fanny watches Linda's time as a bright young thing with a mixture of resentment, disappointment and jealousy.
As I said, I struggled a bit with the first episode. I immediately liked the tone that Emily Mortimer has decided on for her adaptation. Essentially a modern shift, with freeze frame introductions and the odd bit of anachronistic music, if fits the bohemian aspects of the story well, but I did perhaps struggle to accept the lead actresses, both in the 30s, as being teenage girls. They do get out of that section of the story though and once the marriages and children start; it becomes easier to accept. Both are great in their roles though - even if the other thing difficult to accept is that anyone would see the staggeringly beautiful Beecham as bookish, or dowdy. It's an all-star cast, With Freddie Fox, John Heffenan, Dolly Wells and Dominic West appearing - though special mention must go to Andrew Scott's comedic turn as Lord Merlin, the avantgarde artist who lives next door and a burst of energy whenever he appears.
The story kept me engaged even if we, the audience, know that their lives are going to be changed dramatically by the War that everyone seems to suspect is imminent, but can't possibly yet appreciate the dangers of.
I can see from the reviews that it wasn't to everyone's taste and I can't argue against anyone who couldn't get on with the stylistic choice, but it worked for me and with the performances made this an enjoyable experience.
