A Rather English Marriage – DVD Review

By June L. Apr 28, 2009, 20:29 GMT

As seen on Masterpiece Theatre – Based on the novel by Angela Lambert Winner of the BAFTA Award for Best Television Drama, this bittersweet tale of class and friendship stars Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay as two recently-widowed men coming to terms with the deaths of their wives. Skillfully adapted by Andrew Davies (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Brideshead Revisited), this sharply-written drama is highlighted by the effortless chemistry of its outstanding ...more

Touching, frustrating, and ultimately a tribute to friendship, A Rather English Marriage is one of those stories that has much depth and strength.  The action is presented in a most understated manner, but with such care and skill that it is difficult not to simply rave about the production. 

The story begins with a double tragedy, Squad Leader Reggie Conyngham-Jerivs (Albert Finney) and Roy Southgate (Tom Courtenay) lose their wives within minutes of each other in the same hospital.  Both women have been suffering terminal illnesses, and from the beginning the audience is able to discern the character of each husband in the way he handles the hospital visits. 

Flashback moments show the couples as they were, and the men have met in the hospital waiting room.  The social worker that visits them after a few weeks decides that the Squad Leader and Mr. Southgate might benefit from living together.  The Squad Leader has never done anything for himself domestically, and Mr. Southgate and his wife always shared domestic duties, as well as conversation and jokes. 

Both are lonely and need to reconnect with life, and this seems to be a very workable solution.  When the attractive and lively divorcee Liz Franks (Joanna Lumley) arrives on the scene, it appears the newly forged friendship between the two men may break.

One of the most interesting elements of this story is observing the characters progress from what could just be stereotypes into believable human beings.  It is years after the war, but Reggie Conyngham-Jervis still considers himself “Squad Leader” and introduces himself that way. 

He is rough and blustery, and seems completely emotionless.  The flashbacks for his life always show a person in charge, or ordering those around him, and a somewhat subdued relationship with his wife before her last illness.  Roy Southgate is a retired milkman, a much more democratic and understanding individual.  He is sentimental and caring, dutiful and loyal, and the flash backs for his life show a vibrant and happy marriage, not without some problems, but an honest relationship. 

It may be this caring honesty that allows him to realize the need of Reggie to always be “Squad Leader.”  As time progresses the friendship solidifies, and Reggie finds some humility and honestly looks at himself, and Roy gains more strength to equalize the relationship  There are twists, and secrets that finally come forward and give the audience not only the story of two lives, but the importance of relationships to human existence.

A Rather English Marriage is presented on single disc with a playing time of 104 minutes.  It was produced in 1998, and won the BAFTA Award for best Television Drama.  It is well written, beautifully acted, and produced.  It is a drama for those who appreciate finesse in language and quality in delivery.

A Rather English Marriage is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.