A four-part BBC mini series based on the novel by Michel Faber, The Crimson Petal and the White is set in Victorian London. At the heart of it is Sugar, a young prostitute on the lookout for a better life. Her path crosses with that of William Rackham, a businessman with no small measure of success, and events soon begin to spiral out of control. Sugar might just have a way out. Inevitably, the screen adaptation diverges from the exact plot of the book, but the quality of the screenwriting here is genuinely excellent. Added to that, the production values stretch the budget far beyond the norm.
It’s a captivating drama. Spread across four episodes, The Crimson Petal and the White feels like a labour of love for those involved, not least the terrific cast. Headlining here are Romola Garai, brilliant as Sugar, and The I.T. Crowd’s Chris O’Dowd. In supporting roles, you’ll easily spot Richard E. Grant and Gillian Anderson, too.
Overall, it’s a fine piece of work. The story is interesting, the adaptation is strong, and the execution of it very good indeed. And best of all, it shines a light on a terrific piece of literature, that deserves a wider audience. Both the book and TV series are both worth a purchase. --Jon Foster