Mildred Pierce is the much publicised new TV adaptation of the 1941 James M Cain novel, starring Kate Winslet in the leading role (the story was originally turned into a classic film noir in 1945, starring the angular-faced Joan Crawford who won an Oscar for her role.) Mildred Pierce is a Depression-era American housewife (cue flowery pinny and immaculate kitchen) whose husband (Brill-creamed successful businessman who cuts the grass at the weekends) has left her and her two young daughters to fend for themselves (mutterings of infidelity are mentioned as Mildred calmly decorates an ornate chocolate cake in the opening scenes of the episode.) It's a puzzling first episode as nothing really happens, not in the classic shoot-em up drama kind of way. This is definitely not a death a minute, wham bam thank you mamm, bums and gums yarn. Definitely more of a thoughtful tortoise paced drama. It's slow but interesting and tells the unfolding of Mildred's life as she struggles to afford basic groceries (Mr Mildred Pierce didn’t hang around to leave his wife any child maintenance payments it seems, so she has to go down the Tesco Value aisle from now on) and has to try to get a job of her own (which is a bit frowned upon in the circles Mildred frequents.) Mildred is subtly arrogant (though wouldn't want to admit it), old fashioned and stubborn (we see her turn down many jobs as she doesn't think they are worthy of her) yet, she seems strangely likeable. I’m not sure whether it's Winslet's acting (she does some great frowning in these scenes, much like those she won her Oscar for in The Reader, but I'm happy to say her eyebrows are much less furry in this screen outing) or it's this new adaptation, which is sumptuous and very soapy (the early scenes with Mildred in full housewife get up does remind me of the early Corrie days, I'm half disappointed the props department didn't shove some pink rollers in her barnet.) She finally takes a job as a waitress, and as you would expect she is pretty rubbish at it (though I don't think the guy pinching her bum was her fault). As she slips her unflattering waitress outfit on, you can hear her social status clunk to the floor, along with her pride.
That's it really for the first instalment (apart from an awkward romantic interlude with her former husband's unattractive business partner). It sounds boring doesn't it, but what makes it watchable is its attention to detail (the scenes are played out as if they are on stage and have all the time in the world) and its ability to capture the era really well. It certainly likes its characterisations too. This simple first outing is without doubt the calm before the storm, as it feels like there is much more to come (I'm hoping they skip along at a canter rather than a plod in the next episode.) The eldest of Mildred's daughters is definitely one to watch out for as she does appear to have all the makings of a spoilt brat, I think she might cause her Mum quite a bit of strife once the hormones start spilling out. The youngest daughter's role seems to be 'just act cute when we point the camera at you.' She also says 'cut the mush' a lot when things start getting a bit emotional in the Pierce household (I've got a feeling she might be saying this quite a lot more as the series develops.) We also get Mike from Neighbours turning up in the next few episodes, yay!
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