‘Top quality’ war drama which is ‘better than’ classic film now streaming
The three-part series is the second English-language screen adaptation of the 1957 novel of the same name
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The war drama is streaming for free(Image: ITV)
Enthusiasts of war dramas have a real gem waiting for them, as a three-part adaptation of a 1957 literary classic is now streaming without charge.
The series, available on ITVX alongside other offerings, unfolds during the tumultuous Russian Revolution of 1917 and the ensuing Russian Civil War.
Drawing from Boris Pasternak’s celebrated novel, the drama centres on a Muscovite woman whose destiny becomes entangled with three men who fall deeply for her.
This production marks the second English-language television interpretation of the work, coming after the acclaimed 1965 cinema version.
The programme is Doctor Zhivago, featuring Black Doves star Keira Knightley in the role of Lara Guishar Antipova.
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Keira Knightley leads the series(Image: ITV)
Viewers flocked to IMDb to express their opinions, with one user, Jameswj, praising it as “top quality television”, noting: “I have never seen the original Doctor Zhivago film, so I can’t take any prejudged bias.
“This mini-series is possibly the best UK mini-series I have ever seen and is a sign that perhaps the UK networks are serious about creating some top quality drama television that HBO have been producing for ages!
“The acting is top quality, however, Sam Neill on top form steals every scene he’s in, and that’s saying something with the quality around him on screen.”
Rogerhboon shared: “This was an utterly compelling interpretation which really captured the spirit of the Pasternak novel. I appreciated the almost architectural beauty and large landscape of the David Lean film of my generation, yet there was an emotional intensity and a depth of character exploration in this version which was missing from the earlier film.”
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The drama is based on the book of the same name(Image: ITV)
Saying the series is ‘superior to’ the iconic film, Tom Murray added: “I preferred this to the 1965 film, possibly because of the greater time period since reading the book.
“And possibly because it was Masterpiece Theater not Hollywood and probably because four hours gave it a better chance to be true to the book and realistic acting styles have improved since 1965.”
Discussing the original book, booksnob said: “This is a sort of timeless book, yes, in that it’s about the soul and the human condition.
“The characters don’t sound that dissimilar from modern day people with modern day problems which I hadn’t thought of.”
In Britain, the production received a nomination for the 2003 BAFTA Award for Best Drama Serial but was beaten by Shackleton.
Doctor Zhivago can be watched on ITVX.
SOURCE: MIRROR