Berkeley Square (1998)

A classic coming-of-age tale on par with Anne of Avonlea and Little Women, Berkeley Square is worth watching over and over again. This 10-episode British miniseries will awe you with its erudite script, wonderfully believable characters, high-caliber production values, meticulous Edwardian details, and topnotch acting. In fact, you will join the growing multitudes who puzzle over why the BBC decided to stop after only 10 episodes.

In 1902 three young nannies find jobs in well-to-do London households and get to know each other. Naive farm girl Lydia finds an unfamiliar world both in city life and with the progressive-thinking family who employs her. Earnest, rule-abiding Matty is a hard-working East End girl who slowly learns to loosen up. And, after a tragic affair with the eldest son of a grand Yorkshire family, Hannah's life in London is full of chilling secrets and grave life-and-death decisions. --Tara Chace Amazon.com

WHERE'S THE LAST DISK?

This is a great series with superb acting. HOWEVER, it ends in a way that will leave viewers unsatisfied. There is no resolution to any of the several storylines. You can only speculate as to how all is resolved. I had to check the box to see if I had overlooked the last disk. Berkeley Square November 4, 2008

A rival to "Upstairs, Downstairs"

As a devoted fan of British television series, particularly the period pieces like "Upstairs, Downstairs," I was completely mesmerized by "Berkeley Square" and watched it in two viewings. This series is so well done with authentic costumes, settings, and surperb acting that it rivals the Masterpiece series "Upstairs, Downstairs," which chronicles the lives and loves of the aristocratic "upstairs" Bellamy family and their loyal "downstairs" servants. In this series, however,the "upstairs" families are not all worthy of the loyalty of their servants. The viewer realizes that life at any level of the Edwardian society was not easy, most particularly the precarious position of the servants whose lives could be devastated at the whim of their employers. Unfortunately, the series does not have captions (as British films rarely do) and some of the dialogue is lost. Never-the-less, I highly recommend it and would love to see a sequel released soon. September 17, 2008

Very good

I've enjoyed watching this many times--my daughters have enjoyed it as well. Although not suitable for younger children, I feel that it is appropriate for 12 and older. Yes, it contains adultery and an out of wedlock birth, but this is done in such a way to show how both of these choices lead to heartache and a hard life. The only situation that didn't quite ring true was the resolution of Ned's crime. This film is very good at portraying the interweaving of the the lives of many characters. All are imperfect, many very unlikable, but just as many to love. I definitely thinks it's one to own and share. May 23, 2008

So many stories

I came across this series in my search for BBC productions. I absolutely loved it. Berkeley Square gave me a feel of life in the Victorian era from upstairs to downstairs. The stories were so engrossing. I did not want this to end, almost watched it all in one sitting. January 9, 2008

Berkeley Square is an adventure

Berkeley Square is a striking hit about the lives of nannies in England. The lives of these women are intertwined in an excellent drama. Filming quality is very good. The story line is intriguing and well written. This is not just a movie about nannies. It is a story of love, hope, helping and the human condition. October 27, 2007

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