The Flame Trees of Thika

I recall seeing this movie on PBS in the early 1980's when Masterpiece Theatre presented a rich assortment of British TV shows. In this series, we find the Grant family in colonial Africa before and during World War I. The show is seen through the eyes of daughter Elspeth played superbly by Holly Aird.

It was a pleasant surprise to see Hayley Mills in this series along with David Robb who has been performing on British television for many years. The series gives the viewers some wonderful scenery and a glimpse of life in Africa at the time. It is very telling to hear the comments of young Elspeth on the lives of her parents and the people they interact with in Africa. All in all, a great series with very appealing background scenery.

Very interesting series. Representative of those times when Africa was under British rule. The British elite & their treatment of the Africans & the brutal hunting of animals in the wild. A well told story.

Fabulous min-series making you wanting more. Magnificently shot capturing the wilds of Africa and the superstitions of its people. A story seen through the young eyes of Elspeth displays why these types of British mini-series are so wonderful even after almost 25 years to watch again and again. Great supporting performances by Haley Mills and Sharon Maughan lights up the storyline and it is a shame they did not continue the series onto the next Huxley autobiographical book. It was a pleasant surprise to see that Roy Ward Baker was also the director for one my favorite Titanic movies, 'A Night to Remember'. A bit of trivia that had escaped me all these years. If you enjoyed 'Out of Africa' by Dinesen, you will surely enjoy this series. The quality of the DVD and extras were less than stellar but it does nothing to diminish the beauty of the story, the acting, or the beautiful wilderness of Africa.

Sometimes you watch a bit of something, and you just KNOW you're seeing something special.

I first saw this series around 20 years ago as a weekly mini-series on PBS. The wonderful story, great acting, beautiful scenery and haunting music has stayed with me. When I saw the video at our local library I was happy to renew my acquainenance with Elspeth and her family in Kenya. The story plays just as well 20 years later.

Thanks to all who had a part in "The Flame Trees of Thika" for giving us such a gift.

To even think that this show is colonialist or smug towards Africans is completely ridiculous and insane at best.

The show couldn't be more positive towards Africans and negative towards white people.

This is one of these strangely manipulative but innocent looking guilt-trip-shows that are very popular in Germany or the USA.

Virtually all white people - besides 2 or 3 exceptions - are ignorant, patronizing and mean while virtually every African - besides 1 exception at best - is a good behaved hard worker.

The supposedly good will of the show doesn't just stop at the skin color of people.

It really likes to contrast super-capable, strong, confident (blonde) women with whiny, hysterical (dark haired) women.

In other words, the more noble the aim, the more pathetic the result.

I even doubt, however, the oh so noble and moral goal of the show. It just feels very wrong-headed and under-complex for the depth of it's topics.