A delightful story about two evacuees, has been turned into a nice little film, by the BBC. Most children who like a good story will enjoy this. The characters are played really well by a very good cast. Not sure whether our American friends will appreciate it, but they do get a mention, as Aunty Lou runs off with a gorgeous American soldier.
8 Reviews
enjoyable well done
mymeister14 April 2022
I really enjoyed this except the jump forward in time. It seemed jarring and unnecessary way to end it. I was pleasantly surprised to see the actor who played Brian on New Tricks. He does play emotional scenes very well.
Its funny how they made the witch plump. It sends the message right away that she has to be a good witch and not to be feared.
Its funny how they made the witch plump. It sends the message right away that she has to be a good witch and not to be feared.
Life of Evacuees in Wartime Wales
crumpytv25 May 2023
The story revolves around two children sent way from the WWII bombing in London to be billeted with an unknown family in Wales.
It must have been very distressing to be shipped off like this, whatever the reason.
I didn't know it was a children's story when I started to watch it, but it soon became evident.
It reminded me of The Railway Children.
The story unfolds with the children showing more maturity than some of the adult characters, particularly the prejudice and sanctimonious Mr. Evans.
I thought the ending was a bit odd.
The historical tale is brought forward some 10 years or so to end up happy ever after, but the fact that Carrie had been living under a misconception for those years was not really believable. It may have been handled better in the book.
What a shame that Keeley Fawcett disappeared from screens following this drama.
It must have been very distressing to be shipped off like this, whatever the reason.
I didn't know it was a children's story when I started to watch it, but it soon became evident.
It reminded me of The Railway Children.
The story unfolds with the children showing more maturity than some of the adult characters, particularly the prejudice and sanctimonious Mr. Evans.
I thought the ending was a bit odd.
The historical tale is brought forward some 10 years or so to end up happy ever after, but the fact that Carrie had been living under a misconception for those years was not really believable. It may have been handled better in the book.
What a shame that Keeley Fawcett disappeared from screens following this drama.
A romp in the welsh countryside
Philby-312 April 2004
I'm not sure what a Welsh children's drama (from a novel by Nina Bawden) is doing in a prime Sunday night TV slot but this proved to be watchable. Partly it was because in shows of this kind it is the children who are normal and the adults who are grotesque or just plain odd. What with the severe and slightly potty Mr Evans the grocer, his older sister Mrs Gotobed, Hepzibiah the homely housekeeper, Johnny the handicapped boy and Lou, Evans' younger sister, there's more than enough for an analyst.
Carrie, the centre of this story about two children sent to the country to escape the blitz, is oddly likable. The great thing about her is she does not let the strangers and strangeness intimidate her; she tackles things on her own terms. She also gives her younger brother the support he needs almost automatically. It's a very fine performance from Keeley Fawcett.
A good supporting cast is essential in this sort of tale, and we are treated to some fine performances. Alun Armstrong as Samuel Evans stays just this side of caricature and allows us to see that the fearsome bible-basher has a softer side. As Hepzibiah, Pauline Quirke is everybody's warm-hearted mum and Eddie Cooper as Alfred Sandwich is a wonderfully querilous adolescent. Jamie Beddard was pretty realistic as the disabled Mr Johnny Beddard himself has cerebral palsy, though that has not stopped him from becoming a successful actor.
I suppose this story is partly autobiographical; it does seem to give from the child's point of view the experience of evacuation. It also makes the point that for a child, the imaginary terrors are as real as the actual dangers; 20 years later it is the imaginary ghosts that haunt the adult.
Carrie, the centre of this story about two children sent to the country to escape the blitz, is oddly likable. The great thing about her is she does not let the strangers and strangeness intimidate her; she tackles things on her own terms. She also gives her younger brother the support he needs almost automatically. It's a very fine performance from Keeley Fawcett.
A good supporting cast is essential in this sort of tale, and we are treated to some fine performances. Alun Armstrong as Samuel Evans stays just this side of caricature and allows us to see that the fearsome bible-basher has a softer side. As Hepzibiah, Pauline Quirke is everybody's warm-hearted mum and Eddie Cooper as Alfred Sandwich is a wonderfully querilous adolescent. Jamie Beddard was pretty realistic as the disabled Mr Johnny Beddard himself has cerebral palsy, though that has not stopped him from becoming a successful actor.
I suppose this story is partly autobiographical; it does seem to give from the child's point of view the experience of evacuation. It also makes the point that for a child, the imaginary terrors are as real as the actual dangers; 20 years later it is the imaginary ghosts that haunt the adult.
"Sometimes you owe more to strangers."
khunkrumark2 March 2018
The movie of the series of the book! All three are great.
The movie runs about 90 minutes and has an awful lot of ground to cover... this is good and bad. The pace is brisk... but it needn't have been. The 5 part series, 30 years prior, was more laid back and did more justice to the book.
That said, it's an excellent TV movie and much of that credit should be given to the young cast - especially Keeley Fawcett. She looks and sounds like a young Jenny Agutter (The Railway Children) and gives an extremely nuanced and mature performance. (She was an adult when she played the 12-year old-girl.) I wonder what happened to her. Did she even do anything else after that?
There are some memorable moments along the way as two children, Carrie and Nick, are sent from London to Wales to avoid the bombing blitz of the second world war. One of those moments is when Carrie's mother sends her a dress and gushing with joy she tries it on, only to find that it's too small for her.
Geraldine McEwan is a treat to watch and when she dances with young Carrie you would swear they are related.
Alun Armstrong's Mr. Samuel Evans is perhaps the most complicated of the characters. he's bossy, religious, strict and uncompromising... but not mean or vindictive. He's the sort of man it's easy to despise till you walk a step or two in his shoes. His son is drifting away from him, his sister actually ends up running off with an American soldier to avoid him and he is lonely and confused about his standing with the other members of his family.
There's actually a lot of comedy to be found in this telling as well as a couple of heartbreaking moments. They are all played out with dignity and the film is very rewarding to the viewer.
The movie runs about 90 minutes and has an awful lot of ground to cover... this is good and bad. The pace is brisk... but it needn't have been. The 5 part series, 30 years prior, was more laid back and did more justice to the book.
That said, it's an excellent TV movie and much of that credit should be given to the young cast - especially Keeley Fawcett. She looks and sounds like a young Jenny Agutter (The Railway Children) and gives an extremely nuanced and mature performance. (She was an adult when she played the 12-year old-girl.) I wonder what happened to her. Did she even do anything else after that?
There are some memorable moments along the way as two children, Carrie and Nick, are sent from London to Wales to avoid the bombing blitz of the second world war. One of those moments is when Carrie's mother sends her a dress and gushing with joy she tries it on, only to find that it's too small for her.
Geraldine McEwan is a treat to watch and when she dances with young Carrie you would swear they are related.
Alun Armstrong's Mr. Samuel Evans is perhaps the most complicated of the characters. he's bossy, religious, strict and uncompromising... but not mean or vindictive. He's the sort of man it's easy to despise till you walk a step or two in his shoes. His son is drifting away from him, his sister actually ends up running off with an American soldier to avoid him and he is lonely and confused about his standing with the other members of his family.
There's actually a lot of comedy to be found in this telling as well as a couple of heartbreaking moments. They are all played out with dignity and the film is very rewarding to the viewer.
A lovely, bittersweet story
SarahTheGoblinQueen16 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this episode of Masterpiece Theatre and immediately came to IMDb to look it up. I was greeted by a comment from another user, who believed that it was nothing special, a 6 out of 10, and underwhelming. I would feel morally remiss if I didn't disagree.
Now, I am an avid fan of Masterpiece Theatre, but oftentimes the stories can be a bit silly on television, for example, "He Knew He Was Right" was absolutely horrendous. "Carrie's War," however, is probably the best I've seen so far. The entire cast does an excellent job, and it held my interest more than any other piece I've seen recently. The character Mr. Evans is of particular interest, and through subtle images of, for example, an untouched birthday cake or a garnet ring, my opinion of him went from bad to truly good. Truly. His ultimate demise, and the story of how everyone around him left him a cold hard man, is what brought out the bittersweet in this story for me.
The end is gratifying in every sense but one; that everyone did not get what they deserved, but overall things worked out. I absolutely recommend this to everyone.
Now, I am an avid fan of Masterpiece Theatre, but oftentimes the stories can be a bit silly on television, for example, "He Knew He Was Right" was absolutely horrendous. "Carrie's War," however, is probably the best I've seen so far. The entire cast does an excellent job, and it held my interest more than any other piece I've seen recently. The character Mr. Evans is of particular interest, and through subtle images of, for example, an untouched birthday cake or a garnet ring, my opinion of him went from bad to truly good. Truly. His ultimate demise, and the story of how everyone around him left him a cold hard man, is what brought out the bittersweet in this story for me.
The end is gratifying in every sense but one; that everyone did not get what they deserved, but overall things worked out. I absolutely recommend this to everyone.
An excellent remake, thirty years on.
softwarettsl1 January 2004
I remember watching the original children's TV serial back in 1974 (on a black and white set!). Thirty years on, the BBC show this version as a complete full-length film.
What can I say? An excellent story set in wartime Britain and revolving around the lives of Carrie and her younger brother, evacuated to a small town in rural Wales. Central to the plot are the strange relationships between members of the Evans family. Mr Evans is a local council member and a strict Methodist. He and his younger sister run the village shop and take in the two evacuee children. His other widowed sister, Mrs Gotobed, also lives near the village, but they have fallen out. Carrie ends up playing 'piggy in the middle' to all the incidents and interludes between the family members. After the death of Mrs Gotobed, Carrie and her brother leave the village to be reunited with their parents.
The film has a twist at the end...which I shall not reveal here!
What can I say? An excellent story set in wartime Britain and revolving around the lives of Carrie and her younger brother, evacuated to a small town in rural Wales. Central to the plot are the strange relationships between members of the Evans family. Mr Evans is a local council member and a strict Methodist. He and his younger sister run the village shop and take in the two evacuee children. His other widowed sister, Mrs Gotobed, also lives near the village, but they have fallen out. Carrie ends up playing 'piggy in the middle' to all the incidents and interludes between the family members. After the death of Mrs Gotobed, Carrie and her brother leave the village to be reunited with their parents.
The film has a twist at the end...which I shall not reveal here!
Engaging children's tale of WWII evacuees
hazells51824 April 2004
Warning: Spoilers
An appealing children's story (but not too simple for the adults) of a brother and sister coming to terms with the dreadful wrench of being shipped hundreds of miles away from home when evacuated from London to rural Wales during the War.
Young Keeley Fawcett (the bespectacled downtrodden daughter who bought the winning lottery ticket in AT HOME WITH THE BRAITHWAITES ) holds it all together and does a brilliant job with great sensitivity as the elder sister playing grown-up to her dopey, naive, younger brother.
I must admit I had no idea that the poor evacuees were exhibited, on arrival, like slaves at an auction, picked out at random. I had always assumed there was far more care and deliberation to the choice of where and with whom each child was billetted...
Alun Armstrong's Mr. Evans stops just short of parody, and shows his tough exterior stiff with pride, does hide a softer side. All the other characters are appealing.
**POSSIBLE SPOILER ** But - I hate these sorts of unresolved questions : WHY even in the late 40's and 50's could she not have found out from Evans or anyone else in the village, what had actually happened at Druid's Bottom after seeing it in flames from the train ? Why harbour guilt or assume blame through all those years ? Post and telephone was available! And, she left the scruffy bunny behind. An lovely film, with good location period re-creation and costumes, and sympathetic characterisation. A delight. Great family fare.
Young Keeley Fawcett (the bespectacled downtrodden daughter who bought the winning lottery ticket in AT HOME WITH THE BRAITHWAITES ) holds it all together and does a brilliant job with great sensitivity as the elder sister playing grown-up to her dopey, naive, younger brother.
I must admit I had no idea that the poor evacuees were exhibited, on arrival, like slaves at an auction, picked out at random. I had always assumed there was far more care and deliberation to the choice of where and with whom each child was billetted...
Alun Armstrong's Mr. Evans stops just short of parody, and shows his tough exterior stiff with pride, does hide a softer side. All the other characters are appealing.
**POSSIBLE SPOILER ** But - I hate these sorts of unresolved questions : WHY even in the late 40's and 50's could she not have found out from Evans or anyone else in the village, what had actually happened at Druid's Bottom after seeing it in flames from the train ? Why harbour guilt or assume blame through all those years ? Post and telephone was available! And, she left the scruffy bunny behind. An lovely film, with good location period re-creation and costumes, and sympathetic characterisation. A delight. Great family fare.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
