Le Swoon: North & South rivals Pride and Prejudice

Last night I stayed up until 3AM watching the most beautiful BBC miniseries. I could not have imagined a more engaging and wondrous movie if someone had given me all the glitter, rainbows, and active imagination in the world. And this movie was all about the down-trodden and British Industrial Revolution. What’s the movie you ask? NORTH & SOUTH. Yes, you’re probably thinking I’m confusing the 1980s classic American Civil War miniseries starring the late Patrick Swayze; but my friends I am not talking about that NORTH AND SOUTH(although now that I think about it, I should really re-watch that one.)

The NORTH & SOUTH, based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskel, I rented last night told the story of middle class Southerner Margaret Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe), who, after her clergyman father leaves his post and uproots their family to the Northern industrial town of Milton, falls in love with the dashing (and my new imaginary husband) mill owner John Thorton (Richard Armitage). The film is not entirely a love story, although that is the overarching goal. It is about the trials and tribulations of a town based solely on the cotton milling industry and how the decreasing demand for cotton fabric over linen in London will destroy Thorton’s fortune and ultimately the town who relies on his factory for jobs.

People die, people live, people get corrupt and people stay virtuous. Basically, if you’ve read/seen PRIDE AND PREJUDICE you’ll know this story too, but it’s the compelling acting of and delectable chemistry between Denby-Ashe and Armitage that kept me awake longer than I should have been. From the moment Thorton sees Margaret in his factory he is enchanted by her and her free-spiritedness. She demands he treats his workers with respect and he, in turn, teachers her how to appreaciate and love her new home. Just like in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE we learn of Thorton’s love for Margaret early on (and his insecurities regarding Margaret’s feelings towards him), and we spend the last two hours holding our breath waiting for Margaret to get over her prejudices and just flipping kiss the guy already! I won’t spoil their final scene together, but just as a warning I should have brought tissues to bed with me. Thinking about it still gets my heart all fluttery. I have officially added Richard Armitage to my TiVo and Netflix lists.

Have you seen NORTH & SOUTH? Do you have a BBC recommendation for me? There is no better way to spend the holidays than cuddled up with a romantic British miniseries and I think I started off perfectly!