I honestly do not know where to begin with this. I have been a fan of Mrs. Wilder's books since I was a child. It was the television show that introduced me to her books but as quality usually overcomes, I soon became bored with the television show and soaked up Mrs. Wilder's books like a sponge.
When these movies came about, I had honestly hoped someone would adequately portray Mrs. Wilder's life and this just fell flat. I get that the writer or director wanted to portray the immense love and affection Laura and Almanzo had for each other but the implication that they engaged in sex outdoors was too much to take in the first movie and ill advised in the second. Because it's not what happened.
Another previous reviewer made mention of the costuming and hairstyling and he/she was spot on. Mrs. Wilder was a brunette for one thing and would never have gone about with her hair down. At the very least, Mrs. Wilder, whose long brown hair once extended all the way down to her ankles, would wear it in a long braid. But Mrs. Wilder had a mother who was extremely conscious of cleanliness and neatness of person regardless of circumstances and drilled this into her daughters.
Mr. Wilder never liked going about in a bonnet but she always did. Maybe it hung down her back when she younger but she always had a bonnet and not a man's hat when she went out.
I will say Kudos to the writers for portraying the troubles bright Rose Wilder Lane had in school in Mansfield. She was exceptionally bright and gifted and surpassed the other students in her school by leaps and bounds. Eventually she had to go on to Louisiana to live with her Aunt Eliza Jane Wilder because the high school in Mansfield only went up to a certain grade.
While in Mansfield, Laura and Almanzo were struggling and lived very frugally, something Rose resented and her frustration was compounded by her troubles from other students in her school who were jealous of her academic abilities.
All in all the film is just OK. But it is not a true representation of the Author and her life.
When these movies came about, I had honestly hoped someone would adequately portray Mrs. Wilder's life and this just fell flat. I get that the writer or director wanted to portray the immense love and affection Laura and Almanzo had for each other but the implication that they engaged in sex outdoors was too much to take in the first movie and ill advised in the second. Because it's not what happened.
Another previous reviewer made mention of the costuming and hairstyling and he/she was spot on. Mrs. Wilder was a brunette for one thing and would never have gone about with her hair down. At the very least, Mrs. Wilder, whose long brown hair once extended all the way down to her ankles, would wear it in a long braid. But Mrs. Wilder had a mother who was extremely conscious of cleanliness and neatness of person regardless of circumstances and drilled this into her daughters.
Mr. Wilder never liked going about in a bonnet but she always did. Maybe it hung down her back when she younger but she always had a bonnet and not a man's hat when she went out.
I will say Kudos to the writers for portraying the troubles bright Rose Wilder Lane had in school in Mansfield. She was exceptionally bright and gifted and surpassed the other students in her school by leaps and bounds. Eventually she had to go on to Louisiana to live with her Aunt Eliza Jane Wilder because the high school in Mansfield only went up to a certain grade.
While in Mansfield, Laura and Almanzo were struggling and lived very frugally, something Rose resented and her frustration was compounded by her troubles from other students in her school who were jealous of her academic abilities.
All in all the film is just OK. But it is not a true representation of the Author and her life.