Any Human Heart: Episode 1

Any Human Heart: Episode 1
Channel Four
21 November 2010
Historical Drama
DVD
B

The cast who would be back for at least one more episode:

• Gillian Anderson (yes, of X Files) as Wallis Simpson
• Hayley Atwell as Freya Deverell
• Ken Bones as Mr. Mountstuart
• Jim Broadbent as Old Logan Mountstuart
• Flaminia Cinque as Mrs. Mountstuart
• Sam Claflin as Young Logan Mountstuart
• Stéphane Dausse as Cyprien
• Emerald Fennell as Lottie
• Freddie Fox as Younger Peter Scabius
• Holliday Grainger as Tess Scabius
• Tom Hollander as Edward VIII
• Matthew Macfadyen as Middle Logan Mountstuart
• James Musgrave as Younger Ben Leeping
• Tobias Menzies as Ian Fleming
• Conor Nealon as Child Logan Mountstuart
• Julian Ovenden as Ernest Hemingway
• Ed Stoppard as Older Ben Leeping
• Rupert Vansittart as the Earl
• Yolanda Vazquez as Encarnacion
• Samuel West as Older Peter Scabius

Also Charity Wakefield, who plays Land Fothergill, was Marianne Dashwood in the 2008 Sense & Sensibility, which I reviewed on my previous blog.

William Boyd adapted his own novel about Logan Mountstuart traveling back and forth in time through his memories, although the first episode is set primarily from 1926 to '36.  Logan is not exactly a sympathetic character, as he lies to and cheats on various women, including the wife he married for her money and rank.  (There are some sex scenes with nudity, although no genitals.)  He's also a writer of dubious talent.  And yet, so far I'm enjoying following his story, seeing him interact with friends, lovers, and the occasional celebrity.  The acting, writing, and direction, by Michael Samuels, are solid, and the period detail feels accurate.  Also, there's enough humour here, as when the audience sees Land's reaction to Logan's lovemaking but he's oblivious, that I suspect we're not necessarily supposed to sympathise with our "hero."  I'm curious to see where this goes in the remaining episodes.