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Post by kissmekate on Jan 4, 2011 7:56:58 GMT
Yes, but to die for it (sighs)... The ultimate romantic sacrifice. But still I would have preferred he'd lived. The kiss under the apple tree is one of the most beautiful kissing scenes ever
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Post by sewellme on Jan 7, 2011 0:53:44 GMT
Love your reviews KMK, very nice!
I actually just finished watching it for the 1st time.... they should put down "hankie/kleenex necessary" on the cover for I weep pretty good at the end...
The thing is when her husband to be - came out with that crack of dawn emergency tooth pulling visit story; I thought that as a smart/well educated woman she'd try to validate it then rather finding out later on and got laughed at on the same count??? What a turning point that was to me, she'd have turned to Giles and so on....but then they wouldn't be how the book went or Rufus might say no to the role because it'll be less moving and tragic.
What a waste of a wonderful man though....
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Post by kissmekate on Jan 7, 2011 7:32:11 GMT
The thing is when her husband to be - came out with that crack of dawn emergency tooth pulling visit story; I thought that as a smart/well educated woman she'd try to validate it then rather finding out later on and got laughed at on the same count??? I think she was too young and unexperienced after all (and maybe seeing what she wanted to see ... in order to keep believing that her decision against Giles was the right one to make?)
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Post by dippyponge on Jan 7, 2011 10:21:17 GMT
One of my favourite scenes in the woodlanders is when he is showing Marty how to plant, he is so soft and gentle. And when he asks Marty's advice about his love life my heart ached for Marty (everyone has been in a situation like that I'm sure. Unrequainted love.) and his soft expression, I found that I was willing her to tell him how she felt. In my mind Grace didn't deserve Giles.
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Post by kissmekate on Jan 7, 2011 10:48:55 GMT
One of my favourite scenes in the woodlanders is when he is showing Marty how to plant, he is so soft and gentle. This scene is really beautiful. (And it has this nice close-up of his hands.) I don't see Grace as negatively but one must admit that the end is all the more tragic considering that she couldn't bring herself to renounce social ascension for him and he ultimately gave his life for her
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Post by sewellme on Jan 8, 2011 22:25:05 GMT
I think she was too young and unexperienced after all (and maybe seeing what she wanted to see ... in order to keep believing that her decision against Giles was the right one to make?) You gotta point, KMK....taken by guilt could lead you to error judgement, but I just wish that her will of proving his infidelity at the time was as much as her will of proving his abandonment later on. (sigh...I must move on with another movie now, this is quite upsetting, Petrucchio should cheer me up )
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Post by robela on Mar 8, 2011 19:04:08 GMT
Watched the Woodlanders dvd today for the first time. What a sad story. I did not know the story although I have seen and read a lot of Thomas Hardy films/books. I thought Rufus was of course wonderful in the role of young man in love. He was so sweet at the beginning when he had hopes of his love being returned. I found it most poignant when he stood at the door to Grace's fathers house not being invited in initially and not being confident enough to go in because he felt inferior to them. That being the thread of the story all the way through really. It was beautifully made and he played it so perfectly. I hadn't read the book and I didn't know the story but having read the other threads I'm sure from other Thos Hardy books that some things have been left out. I must now read the book and get the audio with Rufus reading it. Thank you KMK for your great review of this film. I will have to watch again as with all Rufus films to appreciate the talent that he has. I really enjoyed the way he portrayed Giles. Of course it was so sad when he gave his life for her not to be compromised.! Too heartbreaking for words.
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Ems
Mind in the Sew-er
It's the wanting that keeps us alive.
Posts: 198
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Post by Ems on Mar 8, 2011 21:43:21 GMT
Not sure if it's been mentioned before, but The Woodlanders will be on Film4 at 4:55pm on Saturday
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Post by zenina on Mar 12, 2011 20:08:56 GMT
I watched it on Film4 and halfway through when it seems that there is a chance Gracie and Giles can be together I already needed the kleenex, knowing how it would end. KMK and I think others mentioned this and I agree, the kissing scene of Grace and Giles are one of the most beautiful one's I've seen in a film. The scene in the abbey (I think someone remarked they were having hand sex) so true and Giles words. There are so many beautiful passages and scenes in that film and I would watch it a hundred times if it didn't always leave me in a sobbing mess. His death is so unnecessary but he was too honorable for his own good. The music is also an absolut tearjerker, so enchanting, sad and beautiful. I better stop otherwise the waterworks start running again.
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Post by robela on Mar 13, 2011 9:01:42 GMT
I agree entirely Zenina! He is so vulnerable in this film. I just want to mother him and protect him!! And yes, like in a lot of the Thos Hardy classic stories, his death is so very very sad because he is just protecting Grace's honour! You make me want to watch again to capture again all the memorable scenes you mention!
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Post by lindragon on Mar 14, 2011 19:40:52 GMT
Well, I watched this on Saturday, as I had flagged it. I just sobbed and sobbed. Not normaly a blubber at films! The film kept very much to the moral of the time. Grace actually does as her father tells her. She does say that in the film. Remember that women were chattels - they were owned by their fathers, and then their husbands. If a woman did not marry, her brother, even a younger one, would take charge of her destiny. Back to the film- I think Rufus has to be the most beautiful man in the world. I completely agree that he speaks with his eyes and gestures. Just as well, as Giles is a man of few words. It really is worth getting the book, particularly if you can get one with a commentary. It explains so much of what Hardy was trying to say, particularly about the demise of the true Countryman, (Giles, Marty and their ilk )and what was lost. I felt very Hardyesque today, Planting some woodland trees, cutting back brambles, pruning an Apple tree, then burning the brash. I kept imagining Giles not far away, just out of sight among the trees, working. I did seem to blow my nose a lot today. Robela, glad you got to see it. I assume your player arrived. Zenina, I'm with you. Glad you saw it.
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Post by robela on Mar 14, 2011 20:17:53 GMT
Yes, thank you Lindragon, I got my player and have been able to catch up on some Rufus films I had not seen. I agree with your thoughts on this film. It stays with you for days. Giles is such a gentle man and the story heart wrenchingly sad but so beautifully set and beautifully acted!!
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Post by kissmekate on Mar 18, 2011 10:36:32 GMT
Watched the Woodlanders again yesterday - such a beautiful film, I simply love those landscapes in spring and the general quiet tone of the movie. The scene at the abbey actually made me cry most, knowing that all the hope will be dashed in the end when what Giles (and Grace) feared most actually happens. The loving gentleness between them in this scene is just so beautiful to watch ... and so heartbreaking to see how his face lights up with this small quiet smile as he talks about his hopes and fears. Regarding Grace, she annoyed me more than when I watched for the first time. When she comes riding along as Giles is moving out of his cottage and simply turns around and disappears without a single word, I found her coming across downright arrogant (although she probably just didn't know what to say to him, faced with his defeat like this). Although in general I still felt sorry for her, too. As a child of her time she has been brought up to do as she is told. However, when she demurely steps back after the kiss under the tree and walks away with her father, that made me quite angry again. And what on earth was her father thinking? Giles may not be a rich man but he certainly would have been able to make Grace happy ... he's such a fine character, hard-working and strong in his calm, quiet, gentle way. Not given to pompous gestures and with no desire for social ascension, he may seem a simple man by comparison with Fitzpiers and the like, but his honesty, empathy and persistent love for Grace would have made him a wonderful husband. He has remained a very natural person with no patience or interest in any kind of social "games", but he's by no means boorish - he's got a certain innate grace and style even though he's not highly educated. What I personally love about Giles is also the gentle love for nature that shows whenever he is out there working, especially in that beautiful planting scene with Marty. And throughout the film I felt so immensely sorry for him. How can such a wonderful person have such bad luck over and over? (But that's life, sometimes, isn't it? ) He would have deserved much better, definitely ... all the time I felt like shouting at Grace to finally stand up to her father and return to that marvellous man (doesn't hurt that he looks so stunning, either). I'll get the book soon, too. Discovered yesterday that there are still some copies out there with the beautiful movie kiss on the cover.
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Post by Petruchio - Good God on Mar 18, 2011 12:23:49 GMT
Will see "Woodlanders" again... but today with my hubby.... can't wait to see it ... this story, this love, these landscapes.....
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Post by robela on Mar 18, 2011 15:14:10 GMT
Agree with everything you say KMK, a beautiful, but sad love story. In the making of the producer says, this is one of Hardy's least well known novels, but supposedly one of his favourites. The reason being that it is about how the simple way of life gives way in the face of progress. This is what the story is about how their lives are changed. Giles is the simple, honest, woodsman, living off the land and but for her father wanting to 'better' her they would have lived and loved each other happily!
I also want to buy the book and I hope it is still available here with Rufus on the cover. I will have a look tomorrow. Yes, this film haunts you. I have the soundtrack and have been listening in my car. I can't wait to watch the film again now.
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