Back Home (2001) watch online HD

After having read the book by Michelle Magorian, which is engaging and of interest, as all of her books are, this make was very disappointing. Nothing seemed to fit well in terms of the plot, it was unfocused, and major storylines had been left out as the book progressed. There was very good acting, especially from Stephanie Cole, Sarah Lancashire, and newcomer Jessica Fox, but it is by no means up to scratch on Goodnight Mr. Tom. That was much better directed and was a far more convincing adaptation. For all its faults however, it kept me going to the end, and was enjoyable. Wouldn't watch it again, though I would like to see the earlier version to compare.

6 out of 10 (That's generous).

This was a great TV movie, but it really missed the point of the book. Rusty, in the book, is not able to accept the changes in her mother that occur over the war period, just as her mother cannot accept the changes in Rusty until the end of the book. The Disney movie captured this well even if it did gloss over the more brutal aspects of her parents' relationship. This movie seemed more a vehicle for Sarah Lancaster and a fleshing out of Peggy's character than the mother and daughter relationship that is central to the book. It also really doesn't spend much time on Rusty's own difficulties fitting in to post-war Britain after being a sea-vacuee to America for five years. Jessica Fox did a marvelous job with what she was given as did the rest of the cast, and it made a good movie, but the 1996 Disney movie is truer to the heart of the novel, and it's really ashame it's out of print so most viewers will not be able to compare them.