Latest news with #historicalDrama
Times
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
From Hilde, with Love review — a gripping drama about Nazi dissidents
The doughty and idealistic activities of the Nazi resistance group Red Orchestra is the focus of this often gripping historical drama from the veteran German director Andreas Dresen. The setting is war-era Berlin, and the subjects are the young married agitators Hilde (Liv Lisa Fries) and Hans Coppi (Johannes Hegemann). We meet the couple first in late 1942, when they have been captured and imprisoned by the Gestapo and are marked for execution by guillotine, or fallbeil ('falling axe'). The film's fluid, flashback-filled structure illustrates their past political activities and blossoming relationship while repeatedly returning to prison sequences that slide inexorably towards doom. Dresen's aesthetic style is unashamedly contrapuntal, with flashback footage bathed in golden glows and slammer scenes mostly cold grey and sickly green. The guttural connection between Hilde and Hans takes precedence over their revolutionary acts in a film that tacitly acknowledges the symbolic, rather than practical, achievements of Red Orchestra. This is, we learn, an ensemble of guileless aesthetes, intellectuals and hedonists who enjoy beer, dancing and swinging (the partner-swapping kind) by the lake, and who aim to inspire civil disobedience by secretly pasting words such as 'hunger' and 'lies' over the state's propaganda posters. At the same time, in the summer of 1942, over 250,000 residents of the Warsaw Ghetto were being shipped off to the Treblinka death camp. • Read more film reviews, guides about what to watch and interviews Dresen's masterstroke is to play out the flashbacks in reverse, with the central romantic relationship winding backwards from its histrionic conclusion to its tiny tremulous beginnings. It's been done before, most effectively in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and in François Ozon's 5×2, but here the shadow of imminent death makes every glance more urgent, every embrace a gesture of defiance. Fries is astounding as Hilde and ultimately carries the film. Her characterisation is part mousey passivity, part furious leonine power. She telegraphs Hilde's internal strength in every scene. Even when facing the falling axe. ★★★★☆15, 125minIn cinemas from Jun 27 Times+ members can enjoy two-for-one cinema tickets at Everyman each Wednesday. Visit to find out more. Which films have you enjoyed at the cinema recently? Let us know in the comments and follow @timesculture to read the latest reviews
New York Times
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Bringing a Modern Sensibility to a Historical Drama
This personal reflection is part of a series called The Big Ideas, in which writers respond to a single question: What is history? You can read more by visiting The Big Ideas series page. The 2024 television series 'Shogun,' a historical drama set in feudal Japan, was a worldwide hit. The show and its actors won a record 18 Emmy Awards, as well as four Golden Globes. Critics and viewers praised it not only for its writing, acting and production, but also for its devotion to accurately portraying Japan and Japanese culture in the early 1600s. The historical drama, which has been renewed for a second season, is based on a novel of the same name by James Clavell, published in 1975 and adapted into a mini-series in 1980. The story focuses on the relationship between Lord Yoshii Toranaga, a warlord struggling to fend off his political rivals, and John Blackthorne, a marooned English navigator who becomes an adviser to Toranaga. The 2024 series gives a more prominent and complex role to Toda Mariko, Blackthorne's interpreter. The characters' historical counterparts are Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toranaga), the 'shogun,' or military ruler who helped to unite Japan; William Adams (Blackthorne), the first Englishman ever to reach Japan; and Hosokawa Gracia (Mariko), a Japanese noblewoman and converted Catholic. The novel and two series show varying degrees of faithfulness to the events they're based on. The newest 'Shogun,' however, is built around its Japanese characters and culture in ways that the 1980 series was not, foregrounding those characters' points of view and their presence as drivers of the plot. And the accuracy the show embraces in details as small as gestures and fabric colors makes it a striking recreation of some parts of historical Japanese culture. It does include changes — some modernized language, for example, or stylistic omissions — to make it understandable to modern viewers around the world. But its commitment to authenticity makes 'Shogun' a compelling lens through which to examine television's role in interpreting and portraying history, as well as how actors inherit and embody history and culture in their performances. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Nazi-obsessed Mitford sisters ‘were modern and progressive'
The Mitford sisters have been described as 'modern and progressive women' by an actress playing one of them in an upcoming series. Bessie Carter, who has appeared in Bridgerton, plays Nancy, the eldest Mitford sister, in the historical drama Outrageous, which airs next week. She said the sisters – two of whom had a fascination with Nazism – 'refused to conform'. She told the Radio Times: 'They were definitely women who didn't want to just do the debutante balls. They wanted to work and to exercise their brains. 'The Mitfords were modern women, they were really progressive. They always asked, 'Why can't I do that?'' The six sisters – Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica and Deborah – were born to Lord and Lady Redesdale and experienced an upbringing steeped in eccentricity. They were constantly in the headlines, and Unity in particular scandalised British society by her closeness with Adolf Hitler. She was known as the 'English girlfriend' of the Fuhrer and fawned over the man who threatened her country's liberty. In January, the discovery of the 1930s socialite's long-lost diaries revealed the extent of her infatuation. The diaries appear to show that Unity, whose father was a first cousin of Sir Winston Churchill's wife Clementine, met Hitler almost 140 times – sometimes alone, raising the prospect of a sexual relationship between the pair. Diana also scandalised society when she left her husband, the Guinness heir, to marry Sir Oswald Mosley, the British fascist leader with whom she had been having an affair. Threat to national security She was imprisoned at Holloway prison during the Second World War for being considered a danger to national security. The family's exploits have inspired books and films and will now be depicted in Outrageous. Carter added of the six women who will be portrayed: 'What we do in the show is look at those early years when they're about to step out into the world and make their mark. 'They're refusing to conform to what was expected of them at the time, which was to be wives and mothers.' She explained: 'Outrageous is looking at these six sisters and wondering how long a family will hold together. And at what point do you have to confront hard truths and face your differences? 'That's relevant today, isn't it? We probably all have a family member who politically is in a different place. How do we deal with that?' Joanna Vanderham, who plays Diana in the new show, added: 'Nancy told on Diana. She informed Churchill that Diana was a threat to national security and had her imprisoned. Who does that to their own sister?' She said: 'The Mitfords were mad! I feel that people will go, 'That wouldn't have happened.' Then they'll Google it and realise it did. The Mitfords were outrageous. The title is absolutely justified.'
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Stan announces release date for highly-anticipated Outlander prequel Blood Of My Blood
Streaming service Stan has announced the release date for Outlander: Blood Of My Blood. The highly-anticipated prequel of the popular series will be released on August 9. The historical drama follows the fortunes of Claire Fraser's mother and father during the First World War and Jamie Fraser's parents in the early 18th century Highlands. The ten-episode series will centre on the two parallel love stories set in different time periods. Hermione Corfield and Jeremy Irvine will play Julia Moriston and Henry Beauchamp, Claire Fraser's parents. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The historical drama follows the fortunes of Claire Fraser's mother and father during the First World War and Jamie Fraser's parents in the early 18th century Highlands Jamie's parents Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser will be played by Harriet Slater and Jamie Roy. The prequel will introduce new characters and gives fans the opportunity to explore and deepen their understanding of the 'Outlander universe'. It is set between World War 1 to the Highlands of 18th century Scotland. The upcoming series will also feature Tony Curran as Simon Fraser, Séamus McLean Ross as Colum MacKenzie and Sam Retford as Dougal MacKenzie. Meanwhile, Rory Alexander will play Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser while Conor MacNeill will take on the role of Ned Gowan. Filming for the prequel took place in Scotland last year. Outlander focuses on the time travel romance of 20th century heroine Claire, who falls through a hole in time to meet 18th century Scotsman Jamie. The series, based on the books by Diana Gabaldon has been a global hit, winning two BAFTA and two Critics Choice awards among many others. The seventh season of Outlander was released back in November. It tells the story of Claire, a World War II military nurse for the British, who finds herself transported from 1945 back in time to 1743 Scotland. Upon the realization she has gone back in time through a mysterious stone circle, Claire encounters, and then falls in love with Jamie, a dashing Highlander warrior. Over the course of seven and a half seasons, they storyline has bounced back and forth between the two time periods that maintain a 202 year difference.
The Review Geek
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Dear Hongrang Season 1 Review – Does the problematic trope ruin the K-drama?
Season 1 Episode Guide Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3/5 Episode 2 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 3 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 4 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 5 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 6 -| Review Score – 2.5/5 Episode 7 -| Review Score – 2.5/5 Episode 8 -| Review Score – 2.5/5 Episode 9 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 10 -| Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 11 -| Review Score – 3/5 South Korean Netflix Originals can be a hit or miss but they always churn out some fun historical dramas. OG fans will surely remember the very first Korean Original, Kingdom which was an instant hit. Song of the Bandits was quite fun, while Gyeongseong Creature Season 1 turned out to be one of the best shows of 2023. Riding on that high, Netflix Korea's next sageuk happens to be Dear Hongrang which dropped all 11 episodes in May 2025. Excitement was high as it is led by Lee Jae-wook who is no stranger to epics set during the Joseon era. And well, this period drama has everything from enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance and memory loss to family politics and twisted villains. Based on the novel 'Tangeum: Swallowing Gold' by Jang Da-hye, Dear Hongrang Season 1 also stars Jo Bo-ah, Jung Ga-ram, Uhm Ji-won, Park Byung-eun, Kim Jae-wook and more. It is helmed by director Kim Hong-seon who is known for thrillers like Money Heist Korea, Voice and The Guest. The K-drama follows the Sim family during the Joseon era, where they rise up, thanks to their work in the art world. It is not smooth sailing as husband and wife, Sim Yeol-guk and Min Yeon-ui have some sort of power struggle going on over who should lead the Min Guild. Tragedy befalls them when their son, Hong-rang disappears, only to return over a decade later with no memory of who he is. On top of that, he is no longer a nobleman but an assassin who has no patience for his siblings. His half-sister, Jae-yi's relief is short-lived as she doesn't believe the man in front of her is the same Hong-rang who had protected her from the abusive matriarch. She takes it upon herself to uncover the truth which causes problems for Hong-rang who has his own secret mission that he must tend to. In the midst of it all, their adoptive brother, Mu-jin begins his own investigation as his position is threatened with the return of the true heir. Guess, we'll have to address the elephant in the room. Yes, Dear Hongrang Season 1 does hint at incest. Even though the show clarifies the incest storyline for viewers pretty early on, it chooses to explore all the popular tropes linked to this plot device. The characters face moral dilemmas due to the suggested incest, which frankly, can feel pretty icky. Yes, art affords its artist many liberties, but not all. Which is, in fact, quite an important message in this same K-drama surrounding the main antagonist and the suffering they cause. There is a line that no artist should cross; certain things are taboo for a reason. The suggested incest may turn away some viewers but for those who stick around, they will be relieved at how that conflict is resolved. And while this problematic trope doesn't actually ruin the K-drama, it could have definitely been replaced by some other plot device. With both forbidden romance and enemies-to-lovers trope playing a major part in the story, the writers could have easily created the same tense dynamic for Hong-rang and Jae-yi without including the half-sibling conflict. Dear Hongrang also crams in way too many subplots and then struggles to unravel them. The narrative is way too convoluted with way too many assumed coincidences which the show never clarifies such as the backstory for In-hoe, Hong-rang's sidekick. It doesn't help that these gaps in the story are quite important to the plot twists or pivotal characters like the fate of the ownership deed of the Min Guild. Viewers are left guessing but it isn't as satisfying as there are no clues or breadcrumbs left to follow. It's as if the writers simply forgot about these plot holes. Surprisingly, the editing is patchy at times, which is a strange decision since K-dramas usually tend to have immaculate technical execution. But Dear Hongrang Season 1 feels disjointed during certain scenes as it uses too many shots for a particular action. There are over 10 shots where Hong-rang lifts his hands for an inside joke and drops them in pain. While multiple, quick shots work for action segments to cover up stunt mistakes or create a sense of adrenaline rush, a continuous shot for simple scenes can be much more effective in conveying emotions. But enough of doom and gloom. Dear Hongrang Season 1 is also quite entertaining to watch with stunning art direction, creepy and emotional folk music, clever action choreography and an intriguing plot. There is a particularly terrifying ritual scene which makes it seem like we are watching a horror drama, complete with red lighting and eerie, percussive beats. Jo Bo-ah also redeems herself after disappointing portrayals in her last 3 projects. It does help that her character is written quite well. Jae-yi is an active character, contributing to the plot with her scenes. She is likeable and charming and her bickering adds to her chemistry with Lee Jae-wook's Hong-rang. The tension is palpable as Jae-yi does her best to uncover if the adult Hong-rang is truly her brother or not. The secondary characters, Mu-jin and Yeol-guk, also attract attention as the flawed antagonists who believe they have valid reasons for doing what they do. Yeon-ui, yet another antagonist, easily steals the spotlight whenever she shows up, causing problems for everyone around. Her actor, Uhm Ji-won seems to be having the time of her life as the scheming and delusional matriarch who keeps the show unpredictable. But bottom line, this K-drama isn't for everyone, courtesy of that one problematic trope. The writing is shoddy at times but the ambitious plot and the ensemble cast will definitely have viewers watching from start to end. In fact, we can go as far as to say that if you missed Lee Jae-wook in an Alchemy of Souls type setting, you will definitely get your fill with Dear Hongrang.
