The Shell Seekers

This is a well-acted, well-directed, beautifully photographed three-hour drama.

The scenes that flashback to WWII, about 40 years earlier than the main action, are especially good. Maximilian Shell is very good as the artist father. Maisie Dimbleby, who plays Penelope around age 25, is a delight to watch. All of the action between 1940 and 1945 is believable, engaging, and heart wrenching. It's a pure delight. I was thinking, wow, this is going to rate a 9 or 10.

The problem is the characters and scenes from 1982. Both male love interests are weak characters. Cosmo, Olivia's boyfriend, conveniently drops away. Later, the character of Danus is poorly developed and rather stereotyped. The son, Noel, is one-dimensional. Daughter Nancy (at age 41) is not much better.

Sadly, the last twenty minutes made me drop my rating to 7. I would do 7.5 if I could.

Still, it's a good vehicle for Vanessa Redgrave, and an appealing story. I like the symbolism of the shell.