Poldark Revealed

Poldark is a popular PBS-aired period drama based on Winston Graham's novels about handsome Ross Poldark, who returned to England after serving in the British army during the American Revolutionary War to find his fortunes much changed. The series is poised to enter its fourth season in 2018, but filmmaker Keelin Cordelia's Poldark Revealed looks to the past, essentially presenting an extended “making-of” featurette covering the 2015 initial season's eight episodes in preparation for the premiere of season two. The film combines interview excerpts with members of the cast and crew (most notably star Aidan Turner); footage of the often-difficult attempts to film on the rugged, windswept Cornwall coast; and readings from Graham's books by his son Andrew, who also discusses how his father came to undertake the series. Particularly amusing is the contribution of Robin Ellis, who starred as Poldark in the original 1970s series and appears in a small role in one episode of the debut season (his role became larger in later seasons). For newcomers, Poldark Revealed would be useful in introducing them to Graham's fictional world, and for longtime fans this presents a pleasant overview. It does arrive a bit late in the day, but should still be considered a strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (F. Swietek)