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Aristocrats
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Directed by David Caffrey.
Based on a true story, Aristocrats draws back the curtain on an 18th century English family near the summit of society, revealing a tapestry of romance, prejudice, infidelity, and revolution. The three-part TV miniseries follows the four Lennox sisters, daughters of Lord Richmond, from youth to middle age and beyond. They go through marriages, children, scandal, and intrigue as they decide what matters more: position or principle. Part one centers on three of the daughters -- Caroline, Emily, and Louisa -- as they entertain ideas of marrying solely for love, an idea abhorrent to their snooty parents. But in spite of the folks' protests ("What will people think?"), Caroline marries an untitled politician, Henry Fox, about twice her age. Emily chooses, God forbid, an Irishman. But because of his wealth and nobility, he becomes acceptable. Louisa also marries a wealthy Irish noble. Part two centers on the fourth daughter, Sarah. After her debut in London, the diffident Prince of Wales (the future King George III) falls in love with her, but unexpectedly marries another for political advantage. Sarah then rushes into a marriage. But because her cold, neglectful husband cannot provide what she wants most -- love and attention -- she beds with others and the family ostracizes her. In part three, miserable, guilt-ridden Sarah finds true love with a decent military man and reconciles herself with the family. Meanwhile, Caroline dies, and social upheaval in America, France, and Ireland opens the eyes of the surviving sisters to new ideas, and they and their families become embroiled in struggles between the masses and the privileged few. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
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AlexanderdAlexanderd wow
by Alexanderd in Alexanderd Blog
loved it.
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"This movie was absoultely awesome. Not only did it show the posotive side of being an aristocrat but it showed how formal and planned their lives really were. so much was expected of them. I thought it was amazing that Emilys father alowed her to mary the irish man. But i can beleive that cecila died that part was so sad. Over all i would give this movie a +10 . " [More]
Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
is neutral about it.
Aristocrats is Gone With the Wind with a British accent. While chronicling the fortunes and misfortunes of highborn daughters with kingly connections, the production burgeons with jewels, powdered wigs, prancing horses, stately manors, and the life-giving fodder of the drawing-room: scandal, gossip, and power politics. A soap opera on a grand scale, Aristocrats arrays itself in the full panoply of English life in an age when position, power, and the ring of expensive china means everything. The costumes, architecture, and verdant gardens are beautiful, and the cinematography captures them adeptly. Development of the main characters is broad: knaves have their good points, heroes have their bad points. The actors -- all fourscore of them -- generally distinguish themselves with their ability to wring snobbery, desire, cruelty, and love from the script. Particularly good are Serena Gordon (as Caroline Lennox), Geraldine Somerville (as Emily Lennox), Anne-Marie Duff (as Louisa Lennox), and Jodhi May (as Sarah Lennox), the four sisters on whom most of the action centers. The production is not without flaws, however. A fifth sister is introduced, then dies, and one wonders why the scriptwriters bothered to include her at all. In part three, older actors assume the roles of the aging sisters, husbands, and relatives while other new faces appear as the next generation of aristocrats. It isn't easy to tell who's who, especially when scenes change swiftly as the action approaches a climax during upheaval in Ireland. Still, the production is a worthy one, skillfully depicting an age of turmoil and change. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
 



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Alexanderd
Alexanderd
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