No 1 Ladies Detective Agency Film Bought
Mar 18th, 2008, 10:44 AM
#21
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It is tragic to lose him at only 54. He was operated on last week at London's Charing Cross Hospital for a growth in his neck. At 5 A.M. today he had the hemorrhage.
He leaves a wife and two children. His most well-known film was "The English Patient."
Here is just a clip from a news source (not the entire article):
"Minghella had just completed a television adaptation of Alexander McCall Smith's popular book series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Ladies Agency, with its indomitable main character Mma Precious Ramotswe of Botswana.
TV movie to air on the weekend
The director recently said filming in the small African nation was an "amazing experience."
"Particularly fascinating to me was working and filming in an African country where old and new are currently co-existing, where traditional values have not yet been eroded by the demands and efficiencies and neuroses of the modern," said Minghella."
He leaves a wife and two children. His most well-known film was "The English Patient."
Here is just a clip from a news source (not the entire article):
"Minghella had just completed a television adaptation of Alexander McCall Smith's popular book series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Ladies Agency, with its indomitable main character Mma Precious Ramotswe of Botswana.
TV movie to air on the weekend
The director recently said filming in the small African nation was an "amazing experience."
"Particularly fascinating to me was working and filming in an African country where old and new are currently co-existing, where traditional values have not yet been eroded by the demands and efficiencies and neuroses of the modern," said Minghella."
Mar 18th, 2008, 01:18 PM
#22
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Sad to hear about Minghella. I like his work.
I just signed up for HBO mainly for the John Adams series just started. First two episodes were great. I almost cried when George Washington first entered the story. The actor, his speech, mannerisms, and makeup, are exactly as I would picture Washington.
Now, as for No 1 LDA, anyone heard anything about when it will be on HBO? I've done some HBO searching and googling but found very little.
regards - tom
I just signed up for HBO mainly for the John Adams series just started. First two episodes were great. I almost cried when George Washington first entered the story. The actor, his speech, mannerisms, and makeup, are exactly as I would picture Washington.
Now, as for No 1 LDA, anyone heard anything about when it will be on HBO? I've done some HBO searching and googling but found very little.
regards - tom
Mar 18th, 2008, 01:36 PM
#23
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How very very sad. And, so young.
To realize that No.1LDA is his last gift to all who love Precious and the gang! And, to read what an amazing experience his time in Africa meant to him.
Rest in peace!
To realize that No.1LDA is his last gift to all who love Precious and the gang! And, to read what an amazing experience his time in Africa meant to him.
Rest in peace!
Mar 18th, 2008, 02:40 PM
#24
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Tom~found this on a media website
"HBO announced its intention to launch “The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” by the first quarter of the next year."
Looks like you might have a year of HBO before it airs.
"HBO announced its intention to launch “The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” by the first quarter of the next year."
Looks like you might have a year of HBO before it airs.
Mar 18th, 2008, 04:10 PM
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To our British friends here (Kavey?), have you ever seen such a long interval between the British airing of a pilot and the very same pilot/film airing in the states? I know that we often buy and do an American version of many of your tv shows, but in this case it will be the exact same film that is ready to air on Easter 08 in Britian in five days on BBC One.
You may want to warm up your dvd burners.
You may want to warm up your dvd burners.
Mar 22nd, 2008, 07:36 PM
#26
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A reminder for the lucky ones who live in the UK - tomorrow, Easter Sunday, "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" film will air on BBC One.
It won't be shown here in the states until next year.
I'm not that patient. If anyone wants to email me, I'm at [email protected]
(I have a multi standard dvd player and tv).
Thanks.
It won't be shown here in the states until next year.
I'm not that patient. If anyone wants to email me, I'm at [email protected]
(I have a multi standard dvd player and tv).
Thanks.
Mar 29th, 2008, 12:45 PM
#28
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I am not a patient man either and so I was able to locate the pilot episode and watched it last night.
It was WONDERFUL. A very nice adaptation of the spirit and feel of the first book. I can't wait to watch the next one.
The casting was just right. OK the secretary was a little much but otherwise all was great.
It was WONDERFUL. A very nice adaptation of the spirit and feel of the first book. I can't wait to watch the next one.
The casting was just right. OK the secretary was a little much but otherwise all was great.
Mar 29th, 2008, 02:24 PM
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Heya!
don't usually have any clue when UK shows air in the States; I'm much more aware of my impatience waiting for US ones to air here!
Here's the review of the film that I posted on my blog yesterday:
Watched this fabulous, fabulous adaptation of the first of Alexander McCall Smith's books about Precious Ramotswe.
I'm definitely not alone in being an absolutely huge fan of the books, partly because I've so loved visiting Botswana but mostly because they are charming, light-hearted, moral without being the slightest bit preachy or dull, totally interesting (with all the wonderful mystery stories within each book) and with characters that worm their way into one's affections. So it was no surprise that folks in the tv/ film industry would be straining at the leash to get the rights for these fine tales.
I had high hopes for the film given the skills of both Anthony Minghella and Richard Curtis. I knew too that it was filmed on location in Botswana which I liked, since so many foreign-made Africa-based films are filmed in the right contintent but wrong country. And then I saw pictures of the actors and actresses cast into the lead roles and they were just as I'd imagined them!
Did it work? Oh yes, yes it did! The locations/ sets were spot-on. And all the charm, positivitiy, lighthearted approach, morality without boredom were there just as they were in the books. I'm not sure I've ever been happier with the film adaptation of a book I've truly loved. There are many great adaptations but most have something that isn't as I'd wish. This was just right.
Much of the success was down to the cast. Jill Scott (Precious Ramotswe), Anika Noni Rose (Ramotswe's quirky secretary, Grace Makutsi), Lucian Msamati (Ramotswe's mechanic suitor, JLB Matekoni) were all brilliant. I want to say "especially Anika Noni Rose" as her acting was just so good that I fell about laughing, just as I did when I read the book but then as soon as I think that I immediately want to add "but Jill Scott was so perfect too in the lead role and what about Msamati?" Top casting, then for all three roles. In secondary roles, Nikki Amuka-Bird as Alice Busanga (the wife with the naughty husband) was suitably haughty; she reminded me a lot of the actress Sophie Okonedo. Oh and the guy that played the naughty husband was also in Last King of Scotland which I watched recently; a minor role but I remember it clearly. Desmond Dube was great as a very camp BK. And, given that many of these actors/ actresses were not Botswanan I was so impressed with their accents. I can't claim to know the Batswanan accent _that_ well having only spent a total of 4.5 weeks in the country but... they really sounded Batswanan to me! And many of the supporting cast and extras were, I believe, Batswanan which is nice.
10/10!
don't usually have any clue when UK shows air in the States; I'm much more aware of my impatience waiting for US ones to air here!
Here's the review of the film that I posted on my blog yesterday:
Watched this fabulous, fabulous adaptation of the first of Alexander McCall Smith's books about Precious Ramotswe.
I'm definitely not alone in being an absolutely huge fan of the books, partly because I've so loved visiting Botswana but mostly because they are charming, light-hearted, moral without being the slightest bit preachy or dull, totally interesting (with all the wonderful mystery stories within each book) and with characters that worm their way into one's affections. So it was no surprise that folks in the tv/ film industry would be straining at the leash to get the rights for these fine tales.
I had high hopes for the film given the skills of both Anthony Minghella and Richard Curtis. I knew too that it was filmed on location in Botswana which I liked, since so many foreign-made Africa-based films are filmed in the right contintent but wrong country. And then I saw pictures of the actors and actresses cast into the lead roles and they were just as I'd imagined them!
Did it work? Oh yes, yes it did! The locations/ sets were spot-on. And all the charm, positivitiy, lighthearted approach, morality without boredom were there just as they were in the books. I'm not sure I've ever been happier with the film adaptation of a book I've truly loved. There are many great adaptations but most have something that isn't as I'd wish. This was just right.
Much of the success was down to the cast. Jill Scott (Precious Ramotswe), Anika Noni Rose (Ramotswe's quirky secretary, Grace Makutsi), Lucian Msamati (Ramotswe's mechanic suitor, JLB Matekoni) were all brilliant. I want to say "especially Anika Noni Rose" as her acting was just so good that I fell about laughing, just as I did when I read the book but then as soon as I think that I immediately want to add "but Jill Scott was so perfect too in the lead role and what about Msamati?" Top casting, then for all three roles. In secondary roles, Nikki Amuka-Bird as Alice Busanga (the wife with the naughty husband) was suitably haughty; she reminded me a lot of the actress Sophie Okonedo. Oh and the guy that played the naughty husband was also in Last King of Scotland which I watched recently; a minor role but I remember it clearly. Desmond Dube was great as a very camp BK. And, given that many of these actors/ actresses were not Botswanan I was so impressed with their accents. I can't claim to know the Batswanan accent _that_ well having only spent a total of 4.5 weeks in the country but... they really sounded Batswanan to me! And many of the supporting cast and extras were, I believe, Batswanan which is nice.
10/10!
Mar 29th, 2008, 06:21 PM
#33
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I'm not sure I've ever been happier with the film adaptation of a book I've truly loved. There are many great adaptations but most have something that isn't as I'd wish. This was just right.
I must agree with this. For example The Kite Runner was a decent enough adaptation, but there is so much that it could not capture. Of course that was a much heavier subject matter.
But usually when I just LOVE a book, there is bound to be disappointment. Even the little changes here worked. Thank goodness this was not done as an American production. I am sure the tone and pace of the books would have been lost.
Lucian Msamati (Ramotswe's mechanic suitor, JLB Matekoni)
That is MR. JLB Matekoni to you
I must agree with this. For example The Kite Runner was a decent enough adaptation, but there is so much that it could not capture. Of course that was a much heavier subject matter.
But usually when I just LOVE a book, there is bound to be disappointment. Even the little changes here worked. Thank goodness this was not done as an American production. I am sure the tone and pace of the books would have been lost.
Lucian Msamati (Ramotswe's mechanic suitor, JLB Matekoni)
That is MR. JLB Matekoni to you
Mar 29th, 2008, 07:14 PM
#34
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I'm so glad that the consensus is that the adaptation was well done.
This series of books is one of my favorites and I'm very glad that Hollywood had nothing to do with the adaptation!
Now, I just have to be patient and wait for it to come to the US.
Deb
This series of books is one of my favorites and I'm very glad that Hollywood had nothing to do with the adaptation!
Now, I just have to be patient and wait for it to come to the US.
Deb
Mar 30th, 2008, 04:05 AM
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I agree with everything Kavey has said. She couldn't have put it better so far as I am concerned. I was in Botswana when the film was screened on TV in England, but my son recorded it for me, so I watched it last night and LOVED it. All the characters were portrayed perfectly. I was at Jack's Camp when Ralph Bousefield told me of Anthony Minghellas' death He was upset as he knew him well, and had guided and advised him. Yes, we have lost a great director, but he has left wonderful films for us to continue to enjoy. I especially love 'The English Patient'.
In England we should be able to see the remaining episodes early in 2009.
In England we should be able to see the remaining episodes early in 2009.
Mar 30th, 2008, 05:50 AM
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Kavey (you too Wayne) - Thanks so much for your comments. Unfortunate that we Americans have to wait at least 9/months (like birthing a baby) to share the experience. I for one will look forward to it when the time comes.
Though sorry to hear, that you only got a "taste" with the almost 2/hr premier episode, for the remaining ones in '09. It seems you all, on that side of the pond, will now have to wait for us to catch up. Boo-hoo-hoo! Sounds though that it'll be worth it.
Though sorry to hear, that you only got a "taste" with the almost 2/hr premier episode, for the remaining ones in '09. It seems you all, on that side of the pond, will now have to wait for us to catch up. Boo-hoo-hoo! Sounds though that it'll be worth it.
Mar 31st, 2008, 05:16 AM
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Oooh I didn't realise the one I watched was just the first (extra long) part of a series. It seemed to cover book 1 in it's entirety I think and possibly book 2 but I can no longer remember what was in which book as I read the first ones when they each came out...
