It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I am one of the few Americans who used to watch this British version of "Antiques Roadshow"--long before the American version came to Public Television here in the States. Because the Brits made the first, they are to be commended on taking such a simple idea and making it work. And, work it did, as the show has been on for over 30 years!! There are a few things I really like about the British version--mostly the nice outdoor settings as well as the sorts of items you see on the show (things most Americans would rarely, if ever, see). However, I don't give the show a higher score for one uniquely British reason. The reactions of many of the guests are AMAZINGLY muted. So, for example, when lady learns that her Rembrandt she picked up at a rummage sale is an original and is worth 139023941034092321 quid, I am gobsmacked (a good British word) that the reaction is so little! And, when the public does react, I noticed that they are frequently Americans living in the UK! This is NOT an anti-British statement--I am just saying that for viewers it's less fun to watch because the folks rarely seem very happy when they learn their trinkets are, in fact, worth a fortune. Still, it's a brilliantly simple idea that has stood the test of time and we Americans owe the BBC folks our thanks.