Wives and Daughters (1999, BBC)
Book/Author: Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
Summary: This four-episode miniseries stars the sweet and kind hearted Molly Gibson (Justine Waddell). Her life is tuned upside down when her widower father remarries the well-meaning but pretentious and irritating Hyacinth (Francesca Annis). Hyacinth’s beautiful and flirtatious daughter Cynthia (Keeley Hawes, also in Our Mutual Friend) becomes friends with Molly; although Molly must endure watching the man she loves fall for Cynthia.
Comments: I never thought I’d enjoy a movie as much as I enjoy Pride & Prejudice but Wives & Daughters proved me wrong. I fell in love with Molly and her kindness and even found a soft spot for the prone-to-be selfish and immature Cynthia. I thought Roger was a gem of a man (until he fell for Cynthia – but he later redeemed himself) and Osbourne’s hidden secrets and relationship with his father brings me to tears every time I watch. This is a rare occasion – when I recommend watching the movie before reading the book for it is an unfinished novel. Gaskell died before she could finish the last chapter but there were enough of her notes for the producers of the movie to know how it was meant to end. If you haven’t seen it, watch it…and bring some kleenex.