User reviews

I am a 45 yr old married mother of 3 so have no "cards in the game" in terms of LGBT rights ( or maybe I will - my kids aren't yet old enough to reveal). This was a lovely romantic 2 part series showing the trials of two different relationships in different ages - also with a real feeling towards the poor Vanessa Redgrave character (who was also a casualty of the pointless prejudice) which really moved me - and then made me so sad to think how rarely romantic gay love is depicted - I love a good romance and how would I feel if my type of romance was so rarely depicted on TV? Enjoyed but made me realise how much further still to go......

All together they are very beautiful stories. Unfortunately they are placed into two 1 hour parts. They needed about double the time to marinate in more storytelling. Each of the individual relationships were so complex I was left wanting to see them develop more gradually. Despite this, the excellent cast (and the director) do all that they can to avoid it all coming off clumsily. There is a lot of beauty on the screen, especially with part 1 of the two.

They were able to make me care about the characters and the parallels between the two accounts, but I think it could have been much richer by delving deeper into each of their stories.

I can't remember when a movie has haunted me more than this one, at least since Brokeback Mountain, which has a similar resolution to the first part of this Masterpiece Theater miniseries. I was so sad after seeing Brokeback Mountain that I never wanted to see it again. But something about Man in an Orange Shirt keeps drawing me back again and again. Having the second part to help resolve the hurt and pain is part of it. But it's the first 17 minutes I'll remember most, in which two main characters meet in WWII Italy and, two years later, resume their relationship. The editing, the score, and two very attractive and believable lead actors are perfection. There's also a love letter, key to the plot, that will bring tears to your eyes, it's that beautifully written.

This two-part miniseries leaves many questions, such as what happened in the 60-year interval between episodes. The second part, set in 2017, answers many of them if the viewer watches and listens closely for clues. The two parts are so different, it might seem that there are two different directors. The first one plays out cinematically like a movie from the '40s or '50s, with lush colors, a stirring theme, the thrill of a long-denied romance explosively consummated, and a somewhat melodramatic conclusion that leaves the viewer wanting more. As an intentional contrast, the second part follows present-day stylistic conventions, with quick edits, repeating motifs, more sex scenes, and some dark and intensely personal confrontations. There's an interesting dichotomy raised by pitting these two episodes against each other: How can same-sex relationships survive a world that overwhelmingly condemns them, and what happens organically when the legal condemnation is removed but the prejudice remains?

All of the acting is superb, which is to be expected from the venerable Vanessa Redgrave, but the other lead actors (who don't yet come close in name recognition) are impressive in their very difficult and heartbreaking scenes. At the top of my list is Andrew Jackson-Cohen, who is the definition of leading-man material. I'd seen him in lighthearted or action fare, but this man deserves to be cast in more dramatic roles like this. I can't fathom why he didn't garner a ton of acting awards.

If you can, watch the BBC original. There are many short snippets of dialog and reactions that make the story feel much less rushed and add greater understanding of the characters' motivations.

After watching episode one i couldn't wait for part 2 or hopefully more. A great cast and a good script make for a good night TV, and they truly were. There is so much LGTB stuff out there but not so much of a good quality, here how ever a very enjoyable story split over 2 generations with all the trimmings of the periods they portray. The only negative (little) point is that in part 2 it felt a little short telling the story of the relationship between grandmother and grandson, something was missing. Overall a great miniseries and I hope there will be more like this.

I watched this series as part of the 2018 US PBS Pride series. It was shown in its entirety. The story of forbidden is not unusual for the gay world, but something about this was very genuine in it's writing and portrayal. The plot line moves along quickly as there was such a short time for the writers to tell two complicated and deep stories. The first section seemed to just be getting it's wind when we lept forward several decades to the modern world. We were just learning about the leads, the loves and their lives. The second section brought in many of today's challenges with instant sex, but not much love. Again, there were many question about what happened in between. However, the quality of the production and the talent of the cast made it a gem to watch. And yes there are tears. As many others have said, worth the watch and if we could have the years in the middle please as a 2019 BBC pride production, I am sure that the audience is there.

I never miss "Masterpiece" because it is probably my favorite current, ongoing series, and it never manages to disappoint. "Man in an Orange Shirt" is probably the most frank and explicit of all of its offerings to date, it will not be for everyone, but it packs a powerful punch and shows the whole picture of what it meant to be gay when it was illegal in Britain, and presents an equally involving story set in the present. It would take very strong, charismatic actors to make this work on all levels, and they are first-rate: Oliver Jackson-Cohen (from "Lark Rise to Candleford," "Mr. Selfridge") and James McArdle in the post-war story, and Julian Morris and David Gyasi in the modern day. I was extremely impressed by the performances by Vanessa Redgrave as the older Flora and Australian-born Joanna Vanderham ("The Paradise," "Dancing on the Edge") as the younger Flora. Redgrave is still a force to be reckoned with--she is, first and foremost, a Redgrave--and the explosive scene with her grandson Adam is painfully delivered and deeply felt. Vanderham is poignant and unforgettable in driving home the point that her life has been ruined by the marriage "of convenience." There are excellent supporting roles by Frances De La Tour ("The Collection") as Mrs. March, portraying a woman trying to be strong under near-impossible circumstances; Laura Carmichael (Edith in "Downton Abbey") always enjoyable as Flora's sister Daphne; and Julian Sands ("A Room With a View") as the arrogant partner of Steve. I appreciated the fact that "Masterpiece" chose to air the entire film in one night. I am hoping that all viewers who saw this ground-breaking production learned something, if not tolerance, then understanding and perhaps even sympathy for a human experience that is no longer stuck in the closet and called "the love that dare not speak its name." I see Emmy nominations on the horizon.

After I had seen the 1st part about the heartbreaking love story of the two lovers Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Michael Berryman and James McArdie as Thomas March, I was looking forward to see how their love story would be going on. Unfortunately it has actually stopped at the end of episode 1. Episode 2 is actually another gay love story about the grandson of Michael. You can say it is a drama crossing generations.

That is exactly the problem, two hours for two love stories is simply too short to achieve a better outcome. Especially the love story between Michael Berryman and Thomas March is simply too short and that I guess and believe most of the viewers would like to watch a longer story for that part. The casting of the two actors Oliver Jackson-Cohen and James McArdie for the two roles are really perfect. They have the chemistry as that pretty pair. Their acting is perfect, watching them in this film just feel like that they are a pair of real lovers.

On a contrary the casting of the love couple of episode 2 (Julian Morris and David Gyasi) is not good. They are good actors but there is no chemistry between the two at all. If one has seen the chemistry which Oliver Jackson-Cohen and James McArdie have delivered in episode 1, one will feel the difference like fruit juice and plain water.

Also the story plot of episode 2 is also weaker too. It does not bring out much passion and spirits. However with crossing generations story lines and add with warm family love and tie between grandma and grand son, it is in a way still a nice episode to watch. The grandma's acting is nice too.

In my opinion, if the complete series is in three hours or at least two and a half hour long (like most 80's mini-series) with a longer well crafted story for the first part and eventually also for the second part, plus a better match casting for the leading roles of the second part, it will surely be much better. I therefore give it 7 stars only.

The emotions, the love, the fear, the self-hatred, the harsh realities. I really loved it; however it felt incomplete, like we got part 1 and part 3 but they forgot to film part 2. Too many unanswered questions for a drama with this much emotional heft.

I've only seen episode one but it impressed me so much I watched it again.

Keep an eye out for this one I wish they'd made a feature movie of it possibly the most bittersweet love story I've seen and 75 years on we are still fighting prejudice and hatred in some quarters for our love. I haven't seen the conclusion yet but part 2 is set in modern times Part one is a World War 2 love story I have to watch again. It's difficult to single out one acting performance as all are excellent but in episode one the two lovers Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Michael Berryman and James McArdie as Thomas March are both heartbreakingly convincing and sadly portray perfectly the pain of that era of the love that dare not speak its name. I must mention Frances de la Tour who as Mrs March give a brief but poignant portrayal of a mother who just wants her son to live a life of peace and love. I'll add to this when I see episode 2

Man In The Orange Shirt is the latest program from the BBC to commemorate the 50th anniversary of homosexuality being made legal in the U.K. I really enjoyed the first part which I can imagine was a story that must have been mirrored throughout the UK during the post war years. Thousands of couples stuck In loveless marriages just because it was the right thing to do. Men and women unable to express in public their love for those they really wanted to be with. This for me was a far more interesting than the disappointing 2nd episode. We move on rapidly to the present day where the grandson is also gay and obsessed with gay dating apps on his phone and unable to admit his homosexuality to his grandmother. This as much as anything seems to be preventing him from finding a solid relationship, despite as it seemed his gran knowing all along. If the idea of this drama was to show how attitudes have changed towards same sex relationships since 1967 then it succeed but I would have liked to have seen more of what happened in the intervening years.

Well, there was much fuss about this film. With intriguing shots from it and a bunch of positive replies (not sure, could it be named "reviews" or not). So, I was looking forward to watch the film.

At first it has some nice views and picturesque shots. But as time went… Obvious acting and directing weaknesses stood up. Some characters are very believable, others are not, some scenes are touching, others are too artificial.

When I started to watch it I haven't known that it's a short series. So, may be my expectations were above adequate level (although I can recall better made series). After the first episode ended, I restated my expectations. But again the second episode disappointed me. Characters became even more unpleasant. But at the end I realized that there's one more disappointment — the second episode is the last one. So, it occurred the story has less logic and less characters' depth than that in rumours were made about it.

Many buts. Wrong expectations. But it has it's nice sides. Acquaintance with new interesting actors (sadly without any "chemistry" between main characters from my point of view). Picturesque shots, some novelty of the story.

I love it. I love both episodes but I love more more toward episode one. It's beautiful but makes me want to pull my heart out because it's hurt so much. Because in the war time, people will got arrested on indecency charges just because of man who love another man. I think I understand (even I screaming nooooo to my screen in that certain scene) what Michael and Thomas do that time, when they didn't do what their heart told them even it's killing them. Then seeing that Adam living in more open-minded and understanding of sexual orientation, it's heartwarming, especially when he come out to his grandma and when he know about what happened to his grandpa's life, he want to change from a man who doesn't want a relationship become a man who want a committed relationship.

There was missing information and plot development in both stories so both should have been 90 to two hours long each.

In first one, there should have been some explanation as to the circumstance of how the grandson came to live with the grandmother and also what happened to his parents. Did the parents die in a car or airplane crash? Of a disease? It just left the viewer hanging.

There is a shot of the son in his school uniform and in a military uniform, but nothing else. I'd also like to know why the grandfather, Michael, died at 60.

For the second story, you can see some connection between Adam and Steve but there needed to be more plot as to that connection. Also, more background as to why Adam was hesitant in getting involved with Steve because all he says is "I can't" but he doesn't explain why. The jarring scene with the grandmother's harsh homophobia seems to come out of nowhere in terms of her reaction. She already had her suspicions of her grandson but then to react the way she did, didn't really make a lot of sense other than pent up anger from decades ago.

Then, at the end the second story the grandmother shows up at the cottage but there is no explanation given as to her remorse and what made her come about/change her mind about her homophobia.

Anyway, I liked both stories and watched them twice as I thought I missed some key information as stated above, but I did not because the information wasn't there.

It is far to be perfect. and that does to critic it very easy. but it gives the right story, using the right actors. and that saves a lot it. because it is a film about secrets, love and relationship. at first sigh, two films. different. with a common point. in fact, it is a film about family. from different perspectives. with wise manner to explore sensitivities, decisions, solitudes. sure, a BBC film is , always, decent to remarkable. but, in this case, the manner to define the honesty, the link between men from same family, in different periods, defining their "sin" in different ways, is more than admirable. and the end, the end has the status of changement about many things from the film. not as revelation. but as the detail giving precise form to sihouettes. so, I admitt : I love it !.

Rarely do you have the opportunity to watch something so well done, so well written, so well acted, designed beautifully, shot beautifully, funded perfectly and coming together in the perfect morsel for your enjoyment.

This redefines you're best list, it casts all others alongside it or in its shadow. Every element of this is a pure and perfect delight. Engaging you for every moment of screen time. Surprising, delighting and shocking you as you journey through this literal masterpiece.

I am thankful for every single person who had a hand in making and distributing this and although I known none of them I'm so proud of the beautiful work they have accomplished.

A perfect piece of cinema. The only downside is that it ends.

Sadly very close to reality for many gay people around the world even in 2019. A tragic story of forbidden love played out across several generations - it's beautifully done and movingly portrayed.

Possibly the second part could have been condensed? I felt that it rather detracted from the power of the first part. Part two was an altogether more run of the mill story with the writer seeming to want to wrap things up neatly for us.

A great cast and some solid performances the two leads in the first part (Oliver Jackson-Cohen and James McArdle) were particularly strong.

Part one on its own was worthy of 9 stars, part two only gets a six from me.

Patrick Gale wrote this bipartite Masterpiece Theater series and Michael Samuels directed this sensitive examination of gay love from two separate historic times - WW II in England and contemporary time in England. There are many similarities between the two episodes that time can't erase (the character from Part 2 is a descendant from the character in Part 1) but the barriers to gay relationships differ. In Part 1 it is the law and the politics that keep two soldiers from embracing their love because of the criminal charges against gay life together with the ingrained belief that to be a real man one must marry and sire children. In Part 2 - 60 years later - it is the cruel but very present dependency on social media app dating the prevents men from the idea of tossing the cell phone in favor of one-on-one meaningful lasting relationships.

During and after WW II Michael Berryman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) befriends fellow soldier Thomas March (James McArdle), they fall in love, but Michael is engaged and after the war carries through with that rather loveless engagement and marries Flora (Joanna Vanderham) and they have a baby - a fact that distances Thomas, leaving him with the life of an illegal gay person to be committed to prison for a year. The little cottage where Michael and Thomas meet when possible is a preserved by a memory in a painting Thomas makes (together with a painting of Michael in an orange shirt). We the fast forward to contemporary times and find Adam (Michael's grandson) gay and living with the elderly Flora (Vanessa Redgrave), depending on social media apps for dates with men. He meets Steve (David Gyasi) who is in a living arrangement with an older man Caspar (Julian Sands). The two eventually fall in love but Adam's dependency on social app dates is rejected by Steve who has left Caspar and is rebuilding the cottage Adam has inherited from Flora. Coming out in present times is equally as difficult - for different reasons - than in wartime England.

A strong cast and a fine script make this a rich film. The main problem with the two part series is the lack of character development and social milieu that seems to be rushed and not examined thoroughly enough. Pairing the two 1 hour episodes has merit: it seems the film would have been more satisfying had each segment been allowed an additional hour to fully explore the subject of gay relationships from the two perspectives. Still recommended.

My frustration is that the relationship between grandmother and grandson was not fully explained as to why this man would have so much trouble with intimacy. They were close but didn't seem oddly so, so why did her struggles with intimacy have so much impact on Adam? Much was left out. I don't think many young men in this *modern* age, unless there was a relentless Christian upbringing would struggle so much with their sexuality. To me the grandma came across a lonely woman who had enough friendships to make her seem like a typical old woman.

This film is so beautiful it defies words. Its heart breaking and wrenching. The sets, the music, the actors, the performances are all top notch. A moving film that will haunt you well past its viewing. I had to seek this film out on DVD for my permanent collection. I've now seeing it several times. What a wonderful treat. It is most definitely recommended. A not to be missed film.

One movie you need to see at least once, The score cant be higher because the big mistake at the end of the movie.

The two part film was stunning. The story, the acting, scripting, cinematography and directing made this a classic. Added to all this, the choice of actors, male ans female was spot on.

Well done to cast and crew for making such a beautiful film. I just wish there was more to watch. I really didn't want the film to end.

If you are in the mood for a lovely gay film with a smashing story line, then go ahead - get the snacks ready, close the curtain, turn down the lights and enjoy every second of whats to come.

Definately a massive 9 out of 10 stars from me. The 1 star missing is because there simply wasn't enough that was so desperately wanted.