Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister

THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS ANNE LISTER
...Ahem (let me clear my throat)...

Well I bought this movie on the off chance that my dvd player would play this format. I had seen snippets of this movie on Youtube and was very intrigued and more than a little frustrated that the entire story was not there! I enjoy watching quality women loving films. Don't care at all for those cheesy lesbian romps that are just trashy porn. I especially am interested in movies that portray women loving relationships of different time periods. Because we all know gays existed throughout history, they didn't just crop up in the last couple centuries! So I bought this movie and sadly discovered my dvd player was not compatible. But... gladly my computer had no such qualms! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! :-)

First I must say that Miss Anne lived wayyy before her time! She was a very passionate woman in her pursuits and her love for Marianna. She and her friend Tib complete their circle of friends. Indeed, they are all...

An Uneven Screenplay Hampers What Might Have Been A Remarkable Story About A True Progressive
I'm not going to sugar coat my reaction to BBC's "The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister." As this handsome production began, I absolutely hated it! As we meet the central character in the opening sequences, she is portrayed as one of the most obnoxious women ever! Most, if not all, of my initial reaction is based on the fact that we're plopped down in the middle of a story with very little context. In real life, Anne Lister was a fascinating person who challenged conventional society by opening declaring herself as a lesbian. She was also an astute business woman, a daring adventurer and an accomplished academic. But as the telefilm doesn't go into much depth about these pursuits, I won't either. In the beginning, "The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister" seems to want to position itself as a frothy sex comedy. Anne is predatory, unconcerned about anything but her own agenda, and dismissive of others. And yet, the screenplay seems to think we'll find her charming. I, myself, did not...

I want to share my life with someone. I want that... or nothing at all!
It is the year 1821 and Anne is hiking through the hills of England and comes upon her friends who are bird watching and waiting for her. She is watching her friends from a distance through a spyglass and she is excited to see them particularly her lover and friend Mariana Belcombe. Anna is lesbian in a time when homosexuality is not tolerated. She is later shocked that day when it is announced that Mariana announces that she is getting married to an older and obviously not attractive man for financial reasons. Anne is crushed and her life is in turmoil.

Anne Lister is a wealthy heiress to the estate known as Shibden Hall which is her family estate. She lives with her aunt and uncle in the family home and none of them have ever been married. Anne attends the wedding of Mariana and wears black to the wedding. She looks like she is going to a funeral. Anne is so mad she walks all the way home crying. She is depressed and she is not eating properly. She realizes that...

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