Sons & Lovers

This 2003 British miniseries marks the third film adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's 1913 semiautobiographical novel about the sexually inhibiting power of excessive mother-love—following Jack Cardiff's 1960 feature film (nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture) and a 1981 British television series. Like the previous treatments, this Sons & Lovers suffers a bit from the fact that so much of the source material is presented in terms of inner psychology (suppressed passion and unspoken feelings), which is difficult to convey in a visual medium. Still, one can't help but appreciate the beautifully controlled performances of Sarah Lancashire as the woman trapped in an unhappy marriage to an uncouth miner, and Rupert Evans as the son who becomes so devoted to her that he finds it impossible to sustain romantic relationships (even though the actors don't entirely efface memories of Wendy Hiller and Dean Stockwell from Cardiff's film—and Hugo Speer doesn't approach the volcanic power of Cardiff's Trevor Howard as the inarticulate miner Walter). Overall, this is a conscientious, respectful rendering of Lawrence's novel that can't be faulted for its failure to fully convey the book's inner life. Recommended. (F. Swietek)