Very well executed

hyped garbage

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Contrary to an earlier review the TV series only takes us up to 1941 and the end of volume two "Marking Time". There were still two volumes of the original quartet, plus the later fifth volume. We miss Rupert returning from the war and finding it difficult to explain why he didn't come back earlier, Archie Lestrange who brought news of Rupert's survival to home place eventually marries Clary much later in the storyline. Polly marries an aristocrat and has a happy life, Laura and Zoe have affairs, the two dotty great aunts move to home place, Teddy goes to America marrying and divorcing along the way, the business going bust, Edward ditching Villy and marrying Diana, and so much more. I suspect that a second series had been planned but never filmed. Such a shame.

Once again, Masterpiece Theatre presents a winner. We really enjoyed the various characters portrayed so well by an outstanding cast. Once again we find, "Nobody does it like the Brits." What a welcome respite from the bland American TV fare. The family is as diverse as most families with brothers different like upstanding Hugh and despicable Edward. The women are a rainbow of differing emotions, all interesting and well portrayed. We always enjoy seeing familiar faces in new roles demonstrating their versatility. Former Upstairs/Downstairs maid Daisy is now the cook much like Mrs. Bridges. Anna Chancellor, formerly an unpleasant sister in Pride and Prejudice now shines as Edward's mistress. Emma Malin, Fleur in the latest Forsyte Saga, excels as young Louise, an aspiring actress. Lesley Manville, recently in Cranford, shows he handles modern drama as well as period pieces as Villy, Edward's long suffering wife. Just a few of an excellent cast of which Florence Hoath as young Clary was the most impressive. Others have pointed out minor flaws which do not distract in our enjoyment of this series. We found it strange that Edward spoke of serving in the trenches in WWI and now in WWII he is an RAF Squadron Commander, who never flies, sails a boat to Dunkirk to evacuate troops and seems to spend most of his time seducing young WRENS? The non-conformist artist Rupert, similar to young Jolian in the Forsyte Saga, joins the navy and we seem him departing on the train in the uniform of a Lt. Commander? When he returns on leave, he is now a believable Ensign? The final episode did leave quite a few loose ends- will Rupert ever return to Zoe? Will Villy finally recognize Edward's many shortcomings? Will Louise ever forgive her father? Will pacifist Christopher ever be accepted by all Cazalets? In summary, I must recommend this series as an example of professional, polished and superb Briish drama. Finally, the cherry on the cake is the nostalgic musical score throughout. The wonderful songs of that era which endure to this day and provide a pleasant contrast to what passes for music today. Enjoy the Cazalets.

I feel that sometimes it is easy to lose yourself in searching for mistakes within a costume piece rather then simply watching it for the story. The story of the cazalets was brilliant, I was hooked from start to finish. The casting was perfect and i felt that we were able to become familiar with the characters to the point where we began to really care for them

Cazalets is a sensitive portrait of complicated people. The fact that all the main characters belong to the same wealthy family makes their portrayed individuality even more unique. Historically there are some minor blurbs. But love, jealousy, sex, suffering, sorrow, death are unique to all times. Money and name cannot insulate us from the human condition, as the movie thoughtfully expounds. Five Stars !!!!! in my estimation.