An tv adaptation of Sebastian Faulks modern classic ‘Birdsong’ was always going to be a big ask but the BBC has a very good track record in period dramas, ‘Bleak House’ being the most outstanding example to date. The tv series of Birdsong jumps back and forth, focusing on the main protagonist Stephen Wraysford at two crucial points in his life: a love affair he has in Amiens, a small town in Northern France, in 1910, and his experience of the western front six years later during the Great War. The novel does not use this non-linear unfolding of events but it works well on tv, allowing the viewer to understand the relationship between past and present in Stephen’s life. The acting all round is very impressive, particulary Eddie Redmayne and Clemence Poesy who manage to capture the passion and fragility of Stephen and Isabelle’s affair with conviction and tenderness. It might be a period drama but the director chooses to show the sex scenes in a fairly juicy way, so don’t be expecting Jane Austen’s subtle undertones of sexuality. A lot of the budget must have been invested in the costumes and sets as they do very well to contrast the opulence and comfort of Amiens 1910 with the grim horror of the trenches 1916. The music plays its part well, both seductive and poignant when required, and helps to flesh out the emotions of the characters or scene at a given point in time. BBC's Birdsong does not reach the greatness of Faulk’s novel but there are many things to like about this tv adaptation and I should think that most fans of the book will not be disappointed. 8/10
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