BBC pulls off a long-awaited adaptation Faulks' 'Birdsong'

Studying both History and English, I particularly enjoyed reading Sebastian Faulks' famous novel ‘Birdsong’ back in Year 13. I remember at the time wondering how long it would be before an adaptation was made for either film or television, and so was excited to hear of the BBC’s two-part adaptation that concluded this weekend. Whilst the first episode left me feeling slightly disappointed, not least by the unnecessary extent of screen time given to the various sex scenes, it is in the second episode that this adaptation truly deserves the critical acclaim it has received!

Throughout both episodes, the adaptation brilliantly captures Faulks' intercutting between the different eras of Wrayford’s life, gradually bringing together the different segments of the story, without descending to the stylistic confusion of ‘Atonement’ (2007). However, the first episode seemed at a times simply an intercutting between two montages of Stephen’s life, without any particularly gripping plot to drive the episode forward ... I confess that I only stuck with it because I had enjoyed the book and was intrigued to see how the adaptation played out ... 

©BBC 2012

Whilst the first episode remains a must-see to set up the characters and various storylines, it is in the second episode that Wraysford’s tale really takes flight, from a wonderfully poignant portrayal of the Somme (the reading of the roll so simple and believable, and yet possibly the best portrayal I have seen), to the resolution of his romance with Isabelle ...

Not wanting to give too much away for those who have not read the novel, suffice to say that having long anticipated an adaptation, I was not left disappointed - except for wishing that this had been produced four years earlier so that I could have made reference to it in my synoptic exam. 

©BBC 2012

However, having refreshed my memory of the novel, I do wonder if a longer adaptation, divided into different segments as in the novel may have avoided the less satisfying montage of the first episodes, as well as allowing for the inclusion of Stephen’s granddaughter, Elizabeth, and the moving exploration of her grandfather’s diaries. 

But for now, roll on Les Misérables ... after his performance as Wraysford, I’m looking forward to seeing Redmayne tackle the role of Marius ... although as is becoming an increasing trend as the cast are announced, I am some what concerned that such a central cast member is not particularly known for his musical theatre ...