Thomas Hardy’s naturalist novel Far From the Madding Crowd runs rampant through the fields of unrequited love and fierce feminine independence. It turns the tables on all the conventions of normal literature of its era, stripping the power and decisions from the men and putting it in the hands of a newly empowered heroine who proves that neither sex is any better at making important life decisions—whether for better or for worse. PBS’s 1998 television adaptation puts Paloma Baeza into the role of the strong-willed Bathsheba, with Nathaniel Parker as Gabriel Oak, the farmer whose fortunes take a turn for the worse just after Bathsheba rejects his proposal. What follows is a slow, but well-paced story of love and consequences that starts sweet and ends in moving tragedy.
Gabriel Oak’s future seemed bright until a swift change of fortune left his farm in ruins and him with no alternative but to become a shepherd for hire. As odd luck would have it, he stumbles upon a raging fire and, taking charge of the men present, puts it out and endears himself to its owner: a woman named Bathsheba whom, just a few weeks prior, had rejected Gabriel’s pronouncements of love. Since then, Bathsheba has inherited the farm Gabriel helped to save, and so she hires him to help run it. His love for Bathsheba still burns, but it now seems to have little chance in the face of her entertaining the courtship of the aristocrat Boldwood (Nigel Terry), who finds himself usurped by the returned veteran Frank Troy (Jonathan Firth). With three potential suitors on hand, Bathsheba considers her options only to make a choice that will cost her dearly.
Despite its meandering story, Far From the Madding Crowd hooks the audience rather quickly through the shepherd’s predicament, and from there shifts the focus easily to the performance of Paloma Baez who never once feels out of place in the lead. She shoulders the burden of carrying the story, and only excels when Oak, Terry, or Firth step in to help. With its almost three and a half hour runtime, it might be more than most want to devote to such a slow story, but for those who stick it out, the final punch is worthwhile.
DVD Bonus Features
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"Far From the Madding Crowd" is on sale February 7, 2012 and is not rated. Drama. Directed by Nicholas Renton. Written by Thomas Hardy (novel), Philomena McDonagh. Starring Nathaniel Parker, Paloma Baeza, Nigel Terry, Jonathan Firth.
