Tonight's Entertainment

Naturally, there will be a firepit celebration outdoors if weather permits. Indoors we shall fire up the dvd player for The Mists of Avalon (2001), a tv miniseries adaptation of Marion Zimmer Bradley's 1983 epic novel of the same name. I know, I know, there are purists out there who will object that the screen version strays too much from the book. I am willing to forgive these discrepancies primarily because the movie captures the time and its politics and the emotional depth and the relationships between the characters so very well. The novel, at 876 pages, had to be distilled down to its essence in order to fit into the run time of 186 minutes, another reason I am willing to pass on criticisms. The casting of the main feminine characters is inspired! Julianna Margulies (Morgaine), Anjelica Huston (Vivianne), Joan Allen (Morgause), Caroline Goodall (Igraine), and Samantha Mathis (Gwenhwyfar) are all wonderful in their strong portrayals, but they effortlessly look the part of these medieval women. As a fan overall of the Arthurian Legend, The Mists of Avalon stands alone in the manner that it elevates these female characters to the forefront of the story instead of leaving them in the background as one-dimensional props that help move the plot along for the men. So. The Mists of Avalon. Watch it! If you don't have the dvd like us old-fashioned people, I'm certain it is streaming somewhere. Happy Beltane to all!