"The Forsyte Saga" traces several generations of the monied upper-middle class English Forsyte family from the mid-Victorian period into the 20th century. The 6 hour miniseries immerses itself in all of the usual family affairs from feuds to alliances to romances to marriages to births and deaths, etc. all wrapped in the Victorian social ethos. The backbone of the saga is the bifurcation of lineage from two patriarch brothers Forsyte in general and the enduring obsession of one, Soames Forsyte (Lewis), an intense and inscrutable solicitor, for a beautiful woman in particular. A sort of elegant Victorian soap opera, "The Forsyte Saga" captures the period well and fleshes out interesting and wholly believable characters with depth, color, and passion. Well worth a look by anyone into films about families or Victorian familial dramas such as "The Governess" or "Sense and Sensibility". (A)
Review of The Forsyte Saga
