Under the Greenwood Tree

Thomas Hardy's 1872 second novel is a relatively slight rural romantic comedy focusing on the wooing of a village's lovely new schoolteacher, Fancy Day (Keeley Hawes), by three very different suitors—wealthy, gruff landowner farmer Shiner; prim, ambitious parson Maybold; and handsome but lowly farmer's son Dick Dewy. Fancy is inevitably drawn to Dick, but pressured by her widowed father to opt for status and security with Shiner (she's also drawn to Maybold's urbanity and learning). There isn't much doubt as to whom she'll ultimately choose, but her decision-making process is set within the larger context of the changes wrought by industrialization, illustrated here when the church choir and band (led by Dick's father) are replaced (not without resistance) by the newfangled harmonium Fancy plays. The performances by largely unknown but able actors (James Murray, Ben Miles, and Steve Pemberton) are uniformly excellent, but what makes this really delightful is the visualization of the rustic settings: Hardy's book is a virtual paean to the Dorset locale, and here the changes of season are so beautifully rendered and luminously shot that the images almost gleam with a fairy-tale patina. Under the Greenwood Tree may not have the power of Hardy's more famous works, but it's very charming, and this genial, affectionate adaptation is well worth the watch. Highly recommended.  [Note: DVD extras include a fine “making-of” featurette. Bottom line: a small but solid extras package for a lovely film.] (F. Swietek)