This mini-series concerns an interesting part of the European colonial history: the pursuits of France to get influence in colonial Brazil. It's filmed on location and the photography is beautiful, at times almost like an episode of National Geographic. The whole production has a very realistic feel to it, with much attention for authentic details. And the acting, at least of the major characters, is fine.
There are some flaws to mention too. While the pace of the first episode is high, (the dangerous ocean-passage, the first encounters with the local Indians and all kinds of turmoil's and fighting in the French quarter), it sags in the second and last episode, where everyone holds long monologues and the emphasis seems to lie on religious and human rights, turning out a bit as a (politically correct) message that has to be pushed forward: against slavery, against religious bigotry, for freedom of mind and conscience, etcetera.
The script has - in my opinion - some other flaws in respect to realism. I just don't buy it that a young woman can live in a boy's disguise on a small vessel, totally cramped with men (mostly soldiers!) for the whole voyage to South America (many weeks surely) without anyone finding out. And the ultimate twist in the story, to save Just's and Colombe's day and supply some happy ending to the story, was a bit too out-of-the-blue for my taste.
Stellan Skarsgard as admiral Villegagnon gives a realistic and sincere portrayal of a harsh but just man with noble intentions, who gradually sees his ideals crumble. Théo Frilet as Just is very goodlooking, with an energetic buoyancy. Juliette Lamboley as his sister Colombe has to walk around half of the series disguised as a young boy, with a hairdo like someone cut it with a pruning-knife; and the other half she has to appear as one of the local Indian women, dyed rusty-red from top to bottom. She's probably beautiful, but, alas, we never got to see it, and apart from her puppy-like cuteness as a boy, she didn't really touch or convince me in either part.
To sum it all up: worthwhile to watch, especially the first episode, with some fine acting and visually beautiful. Oh, and a nice touch in the end: when the credits already roll by, the camera pans out from where the story took place to a birds-view from high above, and then gradually the contours of modern Rio the Janeiro appear. Impressive and in some weird way humbling.
There are some flaws to mention too. While the pace of the first episode is high, (the dangerous ocean-passage, the first encounters with the local Indians and all kinds of turmoil's and fighting in the French quarter), it sags in the second and last episode, where everyone holds long monologues and the emphasis seems to lie on religious and human rights, turning out a bit as a (politically correct) message that has to be pushed forward: against slavery, against religious bigotry, for freedom of mind and conscience, etcetera.
The script has - in my opinion - some other flaws in respect to realism. I just don't buy it that a young woman can live in a boy's disguise on a small vessel, totally cramped with men (mostly soldiers!) for the whole voyage to South America (many weeks surely) without anyone finding out. And the ultimate twist in the story, to save Just's and Colombe's day and supply some happy ending to the story, was a bit too out-of-the-blue for my taste.
Stellan Skarsgard as admiral Villegagnon gives a realistic and sincere portrayal of a harsh but just man with noble intentions, who gradually sees his ideals crumble. Théo Frilet as Just is very goodlooking, with an energetic buoyancy. Juliette Lamboley as his sister Colombe has to walk around half of the series disguised as a young boy, with a hairdo like someone cut it with a pruning-knife; and the other half she has to appear as one of the local Indian women, dyed rusty-red from top to bottom. She's probably beautiful, but, alas, we never got to see it, and apart from her puppy-like cuteness as a boy, she didn't really touch or convince me in either part.
To sum it all up: worthwhile to watch, especially the first episode, with some fine acting and visually beautiful. Oh, and a nice touch in the end: when the credits already roll by, the camera pans out from where the story took place to a birds-view from high above, and then gradually the contours of modern Rio the Janeiro appear. Impressive and in some weird way humbling.
