Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3238 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-04-18
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 180 minutes

Synopsis
A petty thief is instructed to carry out a scam which will defraud a wealthy young lady of her inheritance. The plan is thrown into turmoil, however, when the two women meet and fall in love with one another. Based on the novel by Sarah Waters.

Customer Reviews

5 deserved stars for the genre which this is about!
I found this film absolutely first class from start to finish. I don't rate anything 5 stars unless it is exceptional in everything and I personally think this dramatisation from Sarah Waters novel is exactly that.The story is a beautiful one set in the London of about 1860's, combining lesbian romance with the day to day brutality of the period.The worlds of Sue,(Sally Hawkins) a "fingersmith" or pickpocket and that of heiress Maude,(Elaine Cassidy) a young lady collide with the help of fraudster Richard Rivers(Rupert Evans)and Mrs.Sucksby (Imelda Staunton)with a plan to cheat the heiress.There are several unexpected twists which I do not intend to give away.Superb,convincing characters and acting,a brilliant screenplay by Peter Ransley and director Aisling Walsh in on top of her game.

Faithful adaptation
After having seen the hilariously comical BBC production of Sarah Waters' Tipping the Velvet, I wasn't all that sure what to expect of BBC's Fingersmith. Fortunately, the result is more than satisfactory: miniseries featuring Elaine Cassidy and Sally Hawkins in the lead roles is superbly loyal to the book, wild and exciting work. Although all of the performances are truly exquisite, one of them still stands out: the young Elaine Cassidy in the role of Maud Lilly is all one can hope for and then some!

Strongly recommended, but do yourself a favor and read the novel first; it's such a magnificent experience.

Good, but missing the thrills of the book.
The actual TV mini-series as a stand alone story was presented very well. Excellent cast, the usual quality of BBC costumes and environments, and the story itself providing twists and turns and unexpected moments.

However if you've read the book, then viewing this adaptation feels like it's missing something. The book was a "can't-put-down" thriller, with so much character development and subtle plots and sub plots. I think the TV series missed some of that intensity and depth. It's very enjoyable but fans of the book will feel it's maybe a bit average.

The DVD itself is excellent quality with a really good behind-the-scenes extra, with interviews and comments from most of the main cast. On the whole still worth 4 stars!