Category: Wolf Hall

Wolf Hall is TIMELESS

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

I have constantly been writing about Wolf Hall for several weeks now — about all aspects of it that have fascinated me… And, I have kept one that TOPS it all for me until now…

That is the TIMELESSNESS of Wolf Hall.

Hilary Mantel’s writing and Peter Straughan’s wonderfully condensed script open a beautiful window to the intrigue and manipulation in the court of Henry VIII in the 16th century. Wolf Hall is such a dark, political animal that it is inevitable to chew on a little bit about its politics. Besides, both the book and the drama help us understand history through a contemporary perspective, and does it through its politics and in particular, through the contemporary conversations its characters have all the time.  Continue reading “Wolf Hall is TIMELESS”

Holbein in Wolf Hall

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

We earlier discussed here the authenticity of the costumes in Wolf Hall as well as how much the series costume designer Joanna Eatwell values Hans Holbein the Younger’s work in achieving this authenticity.

It turns out that Eatwell digged into the paintings of Holbein for research. From Lucy Worsley’s interview with Eatwell:

‘He’s a genius – all the information is in his paintings,’ she says.

‘He not only painted members of the court, he also painted merchants and even some of Henry’s courtiers and staff, so we have a complete cross-section which is incredibly important for a piece like this.’

Eatwell argues, in an audio interview with the BBC Academy, Holbein is a “master in his craft” and his paintings are realistic but also propaganda. The paintings make a statement about the person in the painting — she calls it the “photoshop” of the times.

Continue reading “Holbein in Wolf Hall”

Wolf Hall Episode 5: Crows

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

Wolf Hall is getting darker by the minute in its penultimate episode. Henry is moody. He is capricious. He is obnoxious. He is EXPLOSIVE… And, then he turns into a little boy trying to make amends to his best friend. Damian Lewis owned Wolf Hall tonight, and gave some acting feast for us! The Independent, in its review of the episode, says “Damian Lewis is so good as the capricious king that you want to slap him.” I don’t want to make a case for Henry but I admit he has his reasons — it is all about his obsession with a male heir. And, add to this, his being very aware of his own mortality, and Henry makes a decision to move on… well, to the next wife.

Continue reading “Wolf Hall Episode 5: Crows”

Damian’s Inspirations for Wolf Hall

source: BBC
source: BBC

As we continue to get inspired by Wolf Hall in several different ways, I am also pretty curious about the ways Damian Lewis was inspired as he worked on bringing Henry VIII to life.

In a recent interview with the Telegraph, Damian actually revealed some “usual” and “unusual” inspirations he drew from as he took on the role of Henry VIII in Wolf Hall:

“He said he had “drawn on the essential source material” of Mantel’s Booker Prize-winning novels during research, pointing out the story is still a “piece of fiction” despite its rigour.”

Continue reading “Damian’s Inspirations for Wolf Hall”

From Wolf Hall the Book to Wolf Hall the TV Drama: What does Hilary Mantel think?

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

Radio Times reported some exciting news that BBC is poised to commission Wolf Hall series two when the third book the Mirror and the Light is out.

“Executive producer Colin Callender tells RadioTimes.com that the production team and actors Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis are “eager” to film the last book in the trilogy, The Mirror and the Light.

Author Hilary Mantel is currently writing the final installment in the series, which will take us up to Thomas Cromwell’s demise on the chopping block.

“We are waiting for Hilary to deliver it, but everybody involved felt they were making something of substance,” Callender said. “Subject to everybody’s schedule I think they will want to come back.”

Continue reading “From Wolf Hall the Book to Wolf Hall the TV Drama: What does Hilary Mantel think?”