Hugo Blick's 'The Shadow Line' was an unusually complex, disturbing, stylish and odd thriller, and one of the best television dramas of recent years. With 'The Honorable Woman', he follows it up with an even more ambitious piece of work, a political drama set in the Middle East. There's much to enjoy here, but it's not quite in the same class as its predecessor. The stylishness at times slips into pretension; the plot is not just complex, but initially baffling - it takes a few episodes before one can actually understand what the story is really about. In addition, the central plot twist - a plan to get the United States government to recognise Palestinian statehood - doesn't seem realistic given the prevailing political climate in the U. S. Most problematic, though, is the choice of central character: the honourable woman, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, is indeed wholly honourable, though moving through a world of ruthless chancers. Moreoever, she's a millionairess, beautiful, capable of great public composure, and simultaneously running a large business and promoting peace in the world. It would be wrong to say that Gyllenhaal is anything other than good in the part - and yet, the character is written with an underlying strain of innate superiority. While the motives and capacities of every other character are questioned, I found it hard to sympathise with a heroine who uniquely is both morally whiter than white, and also, in conventional terms, hugely blessed by fortune of birth. While her philanthropic interests are in some senses admirable, I found myself wondering, what right does this person have to choose how to set the world to rights? - which wouldn't have been a problem if only this hadn't been the one question among dozens raised by the drama that the script seemed to have no interest in addressing. I'm being cruel here - this is still top notch stuff compared with the majority of television programs, both in execution and concept. It is, perhaps, just a little over-conceptualised - but it's still the most challenging series you're likely to watch this year.
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paul2001sw-126 August 2014
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l_rawjalaurence30 July 2014Other reviewers have commented - often derogatorily - on the slowness of Hugo Blick's production. However this is a deliberate technique that not only builds up tension - nothing is quite what it seems in the Steins' world - but also indicates the complexity of the issues tackled in this series. While Nessa Stein (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and her brother Ephra (Andrew Buchan) appear philanthropic on the surface, using their wealth to foster better relationships between the Israelis and the Palestinians - they are also involved in underhand schemes, none of which are overtly revealed in the opening episodes. Instead director Blick uses a montage technique comprised of short scenes which might appear meaningless in themselves, but which cumulatively build up a picture of the Stein family's way of life in the present as well as the past. It is the viewers' responsibility to put these pieces of information together and try and work out what is going on. This task is often difficult, as Blick brings in characters who superficially seem to have nothing to do with the main plot-lines. It is only later on - in subsequent episodes - that we discover what their role in the overall story actually is. This technique draws attention to the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where it is often very difficult to identify who one's allies or one's enemies actually are. People have to be taken at face value, until one gets to know them. THE HONOURABLE WOMAN takes a bit of time to get going, but by the fourth episode it has gained in momentum, not only explaining the Stein family's shady past, but showing how the British security forces, led by Julia Walsh (Janet McTeer) and Hugo Hayden-Hoyle (Stephen Rea) have to get their hands morally dirty in order to make sense of what they are doing. There are no heroes or villains in this world; the most successful people are those who know how to play the system by forging and re-forging alliances, as well as exploiting others for personal gain. Viewers need to be a little patient with this series; if they do so, they will be amply rewarded.
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Throughout the eight episodes of The Honourable Woman the viewer is treated to a relevant, gutsy, challenging television experience. If you ever dismissed or plead ignorance over the Arab - Israeli conflict, you now have an emotional stake in the conflict. The characters are complex, the actors are skilled artisans. Ever since Maggie Gyllenhaal was slinking around in Secretary she has established a reputation for conquering the challenging, controversial roles. Maggie has conquered once again. The Honourable Woman will win a lot of trophies once the awards season has arrived. Amongst the superior cast is one actor who may have placed an exclamation point on his heretofore fine body of work. The trophy engravers should get a jump on etching Stephen Rea's name on the hardware from the Golden Globe, BAFTA, Emmy and Blockbuster(sic)awards. Rea simply owned every scene in which he appeared. His star rose with the release of the feisty film, The Crying Game whose plot twist remains one of the great and respected spoilers that is kept mum to this day. His efforts were rewarded with an Oscar nomination to go along with his Tony nomination. Twenty plus years later, it is time for this native and resident of Northern Ireland to get his due. Will The Honourable Woman return for another season? Hugo Blick and company drained every ounce out of the script and characters. Perhaps the dawn should best be left unsaid.
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Michael Fargo13 August 2014Set in the middle of one of our era's most tragic and polarizing conflicts, it is perhaps understandable that reviewers here jump to the conclusion that it's propaganda for one side or the other. But it isn't. Using a family's internal struggle with the background being the Israeli-Palestinian conflict the writers almost can't win. But the preposterous claim that the series is justification for the current conflict when the shooting schedule began in July 2013...to say nothing of script writing, finding producers, and casting which would reach back into 2012 if not longer, demonstrates how explosive the setting is. As Nessa says, "It's the Middle East. Enemies is what you make." Therefore, it was brave of the project to chose that setting, but it shouldn't be seen as taking a stand for one side or the other.
The pace may be slow, but it's dreamlike point of view, for me, made it all the more transfixing. The cast, particularly Gyllenhaal's performance, is splendid, and the trap of being a mediator, whether is World politics or family dynamics demonstrates that hazard. ("You're either for me or against me.") This may be a series to watch all in one sitting, void of weekly waits and commercials. For me, it's the years best television series. -
barry-18022 August 2014Firstly let me say that " The Honourable Woman" is fiction, just as say a film like " A Few Good Men" was. Once you view it like this and NOT as it some reflection what is going on in Gaza and Israel right now. I am a Zionist but I watched this masterpiece and was able to have empathy with not only the Israeli characters but with the Palestinians also. The cast is magnificent and I expect that it will win all the major awards at the BAFTAS. I am not sure how our American cousins will take it, because you will have never had seen anything like it. I reiterate we see a tour de force of acting, with several major parts for the girls. However if I were to pick out for me who is numero uno it would be Stephen Rea as a John Le Carre, George Smiley kind of intelligence officer Hugh Hayden-Hoyle. Maggie Gyllenhaal with a perfect English accent plays the major part of Nessa Stein a newly ennobled Anglo-Israeli businesswoman. BUT is she the Honourable Woman? I will let you decide when you see it!
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Tweekums23 August 2014In the opening scene we see a man murdered in a restaurant in front of his son and daughter; the man was an Israeli arms dealer who had helped significantly in Israeli operations against the Palestinians his daughter, Nessa, will grow up to be ennobled for her work to bring peace to that troubled part of the world; this is her story. Cutting to the present we learn that the company she leads is planning to bring high speed internet to the West Bank and various parties are keen to make sure the right subcontractor gets the job of laying the cables. The head of the Palestinian company is found hanged and shortly afterwards the son of Nessa's brother's Palestinian nanny is kidnapped clearly not a coincidence but also not the obvious choice for a kidnap victim; clearly there is more going on than meets the eye. As Nessa tries to find the boy she learns that many of those around her can't be trusted; everybody, including herself, has secrets. Because of the Middle Eastern connection and the fact that she is a member of the House of Lords MI5 are soon involved and before everything is explained we will have doubts about almost everybody.
It is surprising that the BBC released this mid-Summer on BBC2 as it proved to be one of the best dramas of the year so far. At times slow paced but that served to let us get to know and care about the characters. Much of what we learn is shown in flashback but even though we know the main characters must survive these events these scenes are tense and just because we know they don't die it doesn't mean bad things can't happen.
Maggie Gyllenhaal does a great job as Anglo-Israeli protagonist Nessa Stein; one wouldn't guess that she is actually American. She is ably supported by a cast that includes the excellent Stephen Rea as Hugh Hayden-Hoyle; a member of MI5 and Lubna Azabal who plays the kidnapped boy's mother and Nessa's closest confidante Atika Halibi. Writer/director Hugo Blick, of 'Shadow Line' fame, does a great job bringing his story to the screen; managing both the action and inaction perfectly. There are some moments of shocking violence which means this series won't be for everybody but if that doesn't put you off it is definitely worth watching. -
bigstickgreg21 December 2015I'm not a big fan of mini series; however, Honourable Woman is the exception for me. From the very first episode, I was drawn into this fast action drama as if I were there. Not only is this one of the best action packed mini-series I have ever seen, but the acting is over-the-top. Maggie Gyllenhaal does an amazing acting job portraying Nessa Stein. Her demeanor, style, and sensitivity to the part, to me, puts her in the stratosphere of acting with all the other great actresses. She's so good, that I couldn't help but feel everything she was going through in this well-played role. And Lubna Azabal portrays Atika Halabi in a way that makes me love her, and hate her. She was great in this role. And Stephen Rea played the part of Sir Hugh Hayden-Hoyle as I would expect a good spy does. His soft spoken demeanor, and his inquisitive mind really helped to make him a believable character. I would say that all the characters were believable, and made this mini-series what it is...fantastic.
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I am happy to give this some time but I nearly just stopped watching and deleted the recording. Every now and then they forget logic and twist the story just to suit a need. The rubbish body guards who suddenly forget all their training. The key suspect and witness in hospital with no cuffs on and no guards. It really just doesn't make sense!
I couldn't care less about the politics of it all. I just want it to be good. I like all the actors in this and always think Maggie is both beautiful and an amazing actor. But please please please just let it all make sense.
It's a struggle but I will keep trying... -
Stunning, beautifully made 8 hour mini-series that attempts to humanize a situation as impossibly knotty as the middle east, and against all odds, succeeds. The biggest triumph here is by writer/director/producer Hugo Blick, who creates an amazingly dense and cinematic landscape of characters and tragedies.
Nessa Stein (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a tremendously wealthy Israeli determined to use her wealth and influence to try and bring together Israelis and Palestinians. Her father – assassinated before her eyes as a child – was an arms merchant amassing a huge fortune, but at a human cost Nessa finds hard to live with. Now, as an adult, along with her brother, she plans to bring the high-speed internet to the Palestinian areas of Israel to help jump start their economy and self-sufficiency.
But, understandably this plan raises hackles and suspicions on both sides and before you know it Nessa's brother's Palestinian housekeeper (and Nessa's friend) has her son kidnapped. Thus begins a complicated, tense, tremendously intelligent and demanding trip down a rabbit hole of lies, secrets, hidden histories, violence, spies and counter-spies and the sadness of watching your ideals hacked to pieces by all those around you.
The series deserves credit for many things, among which is managing not to take sides, but to examine the madness on all sides of living in perpetual war.
The acting is tremendous. Maggie Gyllenhaal cements her position as one of our finest and most versatile actresses. Her Nessa is an admirable if deeply flawed woman. Gyllenhaal deftly melds all the character's sides; absurdly smart, brave, afraid, powerful, hidden, foolish, naive -- into a great tragic heroine. Stephen Rea is endlessly fascinating as a very smart UK spy attempting to uncover the many hidden truths. Quiet yet immensely powerful, watching Rea's Sir Hayden-Hoyle interrogate and manipulate those he interviews is a master class in loaded understatement in performance.
But the whole cast is absolutely first rate; the brilliant and under-appreciated Janet McTeer as Rea's boss, Andrew Buchan as Nessa's brother, Lubna Azbal as the mother of the kidnapped boy, etc.
Just as wonderful is the cinematography, editing and music, combing to create a show that feels stylistically far more like a top flight auteur film than TV. This is challenging, complicated stuff. You will inevitably get lost at times. But have faith Blick and crew will bring you back around if you pay attention. And you'll want to. I greedily watched the 8 hours in 2 days.
This also lead me to watch Blick's previous BBC mini-series "The Shadow Line" -- a tale of police corruption and drug dealing that's almost a complicated and great as "Honorable Woman". If you responded strongly to this, you should check out that earlier work as well. -
metropical7 February 2022While the story and the players are all very good, there are way too many "art" moments and excesses to draw this out to 9 eps.
Easily should have been 6.
Many twists and turns attempt to hide an important element of the long story. But it becomes rather obvious by the 4th.
You won't be on the edge of your seat, but you won't want to abandon it neither.
Favorite bit. John Mackay as investigator Caleb Schwako.
Nicely underplayed: Igal Naor ... Shlomo Zahary Stephen Rea ... Sir Hugh Hayden-Hoyle. -
hortonstrip11 July 2014So far am loving this every bit as much as The Shadow Line, which I've watched in it's entirety 3 times. Incredible, incredible, INCREDIBLE script, fantastic direction, atmospheric as all hell, great soundtrack, wonderful and nuanced performances from everyone on screen, and multi layered and complex storytelling. The plonker that called this "timed propaganda" above is, to put it kindly, a bit simple. There is nothing here that could look like Israeli props, in fact the only Israeli that has appeared in this so far was a horrible tosspot that attempted to bring "thousands of years of history" into it, which actually from a certain perspective would be labeled as anti-Semitic writing, and the plot so far certainly doesn't particularly paint any of the characters as good or bad guys. I think mr. Blick is as brave as you like trying to do a take on such a complex issue, and doing it with the sensitivity and intelligence that it requires.
Can't wait for episode 3 already. -
I have enjoyed the acting and Maggie's performance in particular, but I'm having a hard time believing much of the plot. I'm not happy about the depiction of Nessa's sexuality either.
When the series first begins we see Nessa as a competent and intelligent professional business woman/diplomat. However, by episode three were suppose to suspend all that we know about this character and believe that she was a naive young woman 8 years ago in Gaza. Were suppose to believe she put herself and Atika (a woman she claims to love the moment she met her) in harms way so she could find out where some missing money went while ignoring warning after warning every step of the way. Were suppose to believe she was that naive about the dangers of the Middle East, despite the fact that she witnessed her father killed in front of her as a child.
Are we suppose to believe she put herself in harms way all in the name of being "honourable" to stop fraud at her university? Are we suppose to believe she can't see her brother's point of view of doing what was necessary to get her out of Gaza alive? This comes across as completely preposterous to me. Nessa comes across as stubborn not honourable.
All the rape scenes have a troubling aspect to me as well. Even before we knew what happened in Gaza, (I believe it was Episode 1) we see Nessa attempting to hook up with a bodyguard that she outs as an Mi-6 agent. The choreography of the sex scene made sure to emphasis Nessa's wanting to have sex while she was laying on her stomach or being taken from behind. Same thing happened in Episode 5 when she hooks up with the guy at the bar who inevitably rapes her. She immediately turns on her stomach and is willingly seen on all fours, before she's violently attacked.
We see in the Gaza flashback that is exactly how she is raped. She's raped while being forced on her stomach. I have a really hard time with how the writer/director is depicting rape victims. Its almost as if the writers want the viewers to blame Nessa for being raped on some level because she's self destructive/naive. I can easily see how having her reenactment of the position she was raped in can be interpreted by some ignorant viewers that she obtains some kind of sexual satisfaction from being raped or reliving it.
I realize the writers want to depict a complex woman struggling to deal with her assault 8 year later. How it changed her (as if sleeping in safe room isn't enough). I realize some rape victims want to reclaim their sexual identity and power in complex ways, but I don't think you can leave rape and its aftermath up to interpretation. I think its really irresponsible to do so because it can give legitimacy to rape culture.
I don't even know what I'm suppose to take away with Nessa's feelings for Atika? Is she being self destructive because she can't be with the person she loves so she randomly hooks up with men? Why not randomly hook up with other women?
Also on the preposterous front is the depiction of every American character. Its been way over the top. I've lost track on how many American TV shows have pointed this out, but the FBI is not involved in espionage. That is the role of the CIA. Had it been a CIA agent involved in the fake affair to use as a cover for the assassination plot that might have been more believable. That is just one example of the writers ignoring the real world in order to make their fictitious world work.
In this fictitious world there are no British Neo-cons. Tony Blair never existed and Mi-6 never helped the US lie about WMD in Iraq. That's a bit too self-righteous for my liking.
We also have to suspend belief of the existence of the NSA and British/Israeli equivalent in this fictitious world too. Were suppose to believe all these spy agencies need to rely on Israeli telecom firms to do their snooping. Sure. -
I have never been a fan of Maggie Gyllenhaal, as she always seems to have the same sad expression on her face. And as an American playing an Englishwoman, I had my doubts she could pull off the role. Miss Gyllenhaal does the opening voice over, and I have to admit, the British accent was quite passable. I was glad that was not going to be a problem. The opening title sequence is very reminiscent of Homeland, but rather than have the female protagonist be a spy, a la Claire Danes, she is a business woman. Yet there is a hint of under dealings that may involve government(whose?) spooks in some way. There are long passages of not very much happening:walking in a ceremonial robe, looking at home movies, making a speech coupled with cuts to scenes of other happenings. A good effect, as it helps develop the Gyllenhaal character while advancing the story, as thin as it is at this point. Much of the story feels like a foreshadowing of coming events, so the viewer needs to be engaged and pay attention. I love the classical sounding musical soundtrack, with the strings giving heart to the proceedings. Overall, an enjoyable first episode. I do intend to watch the next episode, but hopefully they will fill in the plot points.
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Lejink12 September 2014I finally got to the end of this tortuous eight-part BBC series with my head spinning and my sympathies unengaged. An obviously highly topical storyline centring on the Israel/Palestine conflict, for me it was a dissatisfying mix of convoluted plotting, unsettling situations, periodic bursts of unsavoury actions, grisly killings and right-on politics, at one point having us believe that the US government under any circumstances would drop its support of Israel's right to exist in the United Nations.
I see Maggie Gylenhaal getting praised to the skies in the press for her part but I found her would-be martyrdom unconvincing. She doesn't even report her second rapist to the authorities, instead supposedly gratifying herself with telling the offender's wife instead. That's taking self sacrifice too far. Apart from delivering a spot-on English accent, she gets to run a lot, cry a lot, be silent a lot and undress a lot, especially to enter her sci-fi type special toilet, the purpose of which escaped me. None of the rest of the cast really convinced me in their roles either, none less so than Stephen Rea in a very mannered style of acting, playing the Smiley-esque spymaster always one step behind the action while at the same time pursuing his ex-wife like a lovesick teenager.
For some episodes I thought I was actually getting somewhere with the plot only to be thrown into confusion by the next one. I do get that Middle-east politics are at times impenetrably dense and complicated but with no liking or sympathy for Gylenhaal's Nessa Stein character or her elder brother, I have to say it took a lot of effort to watch it all the way through to the end.
Maybe it's just that I don't like or condone depictions of terrorism whether small or large-scale, or attempts to get inside the heads of ruthless political terrorists, but with no one figure commanding my attention never mind my sympathy, I was quite pleased just to make it to the end. Frankly, it just never felt real at any point and as the plot moved into ever-increasing circles failed to take me with it along the way. -
tkatsoufris17 April 2021Excellent spy series!! Top performances, top plot, top dialogues, nice build up. Quality all the way!!! Top tier!!!
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Usually, I tend to skip movies or series on sensitive and politicized issues as they usually emanate from black-and-white approach and simplified views or solution proposals. So, before my respective decision, I try to obtain a lot of background material and diverse opinions, meaning that I do not watch them "bright and early". This was also the case with The Honourable Woman that was revealed in 2014 and honored in 2015.
And from the first episodes, I was pleasantly surprised and ravished, both performance-wise and plot-wise. True, that Maggie Gyllenhaal as Nessa Stein was wonderful and fully deserved her Golden Globe Award, but I am somewhat puzzled that Stephen Rea's great performance was not too much noticed; he is an otherwise wonderful actor and his performance here as Sir Hugh Hayden-Hoyle was front-ranking as well, particularly under dialogs, including with Gyllenhaal; Rea does really know how to express profundity using minimalistic manners and scenes. Of course, all other performances were at least good as well, but they spent less time on screen.
The plot is captivating, at times a bit over-sophisticated and some scenes protracted, but the versatility and tensions are present and the storyline and values expressed go beyond confined Israeli-Palestinian issues. There are many twists and turns, "good guys die too", and the volume of 8 episodes lets all this enjoy in a relatively short time- frame.
All in all, a good series, recommended even to those not particularly fond of pending political issues. Even just following the dialogs and scenes with leading characters provide a memorable series experience. -
steven9866428 December 2014Well this tarnishes just about everyone government-wise. It most likely represents what is probably very true.....how things work. Betrayal, intrigue, human endeavor, are all covered. The character of Nessa Stein is so well played by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The series is almost emotionally draining. So many difficult things confronted.
The things that are taken for granted are kind of interesting. Are we owners of or parents or grandparents actions? If we accept the state of being of circumstances, does that mean we agree with them?
Highly recommended. Worth watching all the way through.
I am curious how the series is received by British, Arabic, Israeli, and other US folks.
As you go through the series, you may want to observe what is represented as true, what is represented as given, and at the end of the series, how folks are portrayed at that point. It tells me about the folks who produced this and what they believe, because although the show appears to be open, freely representing all, in the end, they show common stereotypes, in my opinion. I am not criticizing it, I don't think, but it is not as open as it appears.
I still highly recommend it. -
pralhadxhrestha3 January 2015well i had originally planed to watch it in a day after 4 episodes i got caught up in other things and later I just did not care very much for the show.Because for me the show was going no where and early 4 episodes were too slow paced.But after 2 months i thought of giving it another chance.And I have to say if you can get past the slow paced beginning the later episodes are wonder treats.This is one of the best modern spy thriller in years. best thing about the series is,it knows what it's doing and takes us in the territory of modern political spy thriller with some strong writing and directing.it gives us every angle of it's story.Apart from being a well written spy thriller it's also human drama with unbiased storytelling which has no theatrical heroes and villain.We see from different angles that,every character have their own faults and virtue,every side have there own story which leads to a gripping but very humane conclusion that makes this show a worthwhile.
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roygray4230 December 2014she is Honorable, but... Trust, you can't trust, anyone. opening credits for every episode for the entire series emphasize the fact. and guess what? absolutely true. nobody in this intricately written, deceptively deceptive, entirely 'negative' story about the Israel, Palestine problem is trustworthy. in addition, everybody is a bad guy, everybody. it's a downer, as well. not a happy or redeeming moment in all 8 episodes. none! i continued to watch it past the 3rd episode because i thought i might learn something new regarding the middle east and the argument for Palestine statehood.. Never happened. Great acting in a lost cause. Watch if you want to come down from a high and become totally depressed. GuaranDamnTeed...
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SnoopyStyle11 November 2014Nessa Stein (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is trying to use her family's business to construct a telecommunication connection to the Palestinian territories. She has high ideals promoting a policy of reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. Part of that is to seek out a Palestinian partner for the venture. Her father's killing in front of her is still a major pain for her and her brother. However, she is hiding a secret from 8 years ago when she ventured into the Gaza Strip. It is secrets upon secrets as world politics and personal struggles collide.
The first thing about this series is that it is well written. It is not just what's on the surface. Everybody has a secret. It is an intricate web of lies and double-cross. There is no need to spoil anything. Gyllenhaal gives a very solid performance as do so many of the actors. This is simply smart television. I'm fine with a limited series because it allows for more intense storytelling. -
geoff-74-17108 August 2014I have watched all episodes to date. In my opinion viewing pleasure is significantly diminished by the marketing approach adopted by the producers. This can be seen in two strands: The story line is the tale of a dynamic and beautiful young business woman of Jewish heritage. Her honourable approach to business mitigates against her fathers' past and she is very much part of the modern world. Clearly this is implicit in the series title. This approach seems likely to appeal to a population with a significant Jewish vote and constituent (nothing wrong with that). The content of the story line suggests that the target audience is more the US than the UK. To suggest the series is aimed at the larger market is an endorsement rather than a criticism. I am only proposing that content is driven by a marketing approach. The scenes of a sexual nature are dismal. The author/editor should understand that sexual activity generally works better if one divests oneself of clothing. The participants are also frequently passionate and whole hearted about the activity. Never, so far, do we see any of the actors' naughty bits and indeed many seem to sleep well clothed. This again suggests to me that the series is aimed at the more prudish US audience. Killing and violence seem to be OK but what I understand to be the enjoyable activity of sexual intercourse is well veiled and wooden. Over emphasis on a market driven content has dumbed down and distorted the story line and content. I can compliment the program makers on their enthusiasm for making money but not on their approach to literary freedom or reality. Because the series is so well acted and filmed I do wonder if the cast had anything to say about what they are forced to portray.
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asc8527 September 2014After the first couple of episodes, I thought about stopping, as it was difficult to follow what the heck was going on. But I hung in there, and boy was I glad. Basically, in the first episode, all these things happen, all these characters are introduced, and you have no idea why. The story then continues in episodes 2-6 basically giving the back story of why episode #1 happened. This all leads up to a shocking climax in episode #7, with a nearly-as-shocking episode #8. I've never been a huge Maggie G. fan, and I think she's OK in this, but nothing great. Since I'm American, I have no way of critiquing the authenticity of her English accent, but it seemed fine to me. Alternatively, Stephen Rea is great, and I will echo another reviewer and say that he pretty much steals every scene that he's in.
If you're reading this and feel that the first couple of episodes are difficult to slog through, I'd say hang in there, and you will be rewarded at the end. -
haileynathel19 April 2021So many holes in the plot but good to fall asleep to. Soundtrack is aggressive.
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A decent story spoiled by en erratic script going unnecessarily to and fro with lines hinting but not saying, a director in love with still life and pauses (to make an Antonioni it takes an Antonioni), an over-acting actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal must think she is sort of an Eleonora Duse, always posing and sniffing and grimacing). Even the good ones, like Stephen Rea, are compelled to stay frozen all the time pretending they are the most intelligent people in the world. Andrew Buchan (Ephra Stein) is cornered into an absurd love story with the nowadays usual and gratuitous sex sessions. Alltogather very very boring, the only plausible thing is that almost everybody is bad or stupid, quite similar, even though unwillingly, to real life.
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susemaher17 June 2020I have only just seen this and consider it one of the best dramas ever, on all levels; writing, directing, acting. Gyllenhaal's acting was outstanding. I do not consider this mini-series revealing or educational regarding Israeli/Palestinian relations. There are more informative shows/documentaries out there. And it is a work of fiction after-all. I am a fan of slow-burners and complicated plots, so did not find it tedious at any stage. I liked Nessa's character; her vulnerability, fragility, naivety, contrasting with her idealistic principles, strength and courage in the face of adversity. Yes she was wealthy and lived a privileged life. Materialistic comforts meant little to her as the horror and sadness of having witnessed the brutal death of her father at a young age, is all pervasive. The deliberate depiction of superiority is explored well in the series through her dialogue with the Palestinian characters who hate her for it. I Love Hugo Blick's dark humour which highlights the absurd in even the most grotesque situations. The fact he can cause the viewer to laugh while experiencing discomfort during a scene, is genius.