The Impressionists

Although it's hard to believe now, the Impressionist painters of the late 19th century were reviled by both critics and the public alike when they first introduced their bold new style of art. This beautifully appointed drama examines this tumultuous period from the perspective of an aged Claude Monet (Julian Glover, with Richard Armitage playing the younger Monet) reminiscing circa 1920 about his travails and those of his close friends, Renoir (Charlie Condou) and Bazille (James Lance). Living lives further complicated by the era's massive social upheaval, the poverty-stricken Impressionists struggle to maintain commitment to their movement, which they believe will revolutionize the way artists depict the world. It takes nearly 40 years for the visionaries to achieve respect and success, and some of them succumb to tragedy along the way. Filmmakers Tim Dunn and Mary Downes bring a scrupulous fidelity to the period, manifested in every facet of the production design, extending even to the choice of locations (including Monet's fabled garden in Giverny), while the script by Sarah Woods and Colin Swash effectively telescopes the action in this 2006 miniseries into a three-hour running time, capturing the flavor of the era and offering vivid characterizations of the principal characters. DVD extras include “Painter of Light,” an hour-shy documentary on Monet. Recommended. (E. Hulse)