Set in and around the women’s prison at Millbank in Victorian London, Margaret Prior (Anna Madeley – Mr Selfridge, Utopia) has decided to pursue some ‘good work’ with the lady criminals of one of London’s most notorious jails. Of all her friendships with prisoners, she is most fascinated by Selina – a medium. Set in the 1870s.
Sarah Waters’ 1999 novel of the same name serves as the inspiration for director Tim Fywell and screenwriter Andrew Davies’ gothic period drama detailing the relationship between an upper class Victorian girl still mourning the death of her father and a once-successful medium imprisoned for assaulting a young girl. Margaret (Anna Madeley) may have all the wealth a woman cold want, but without her father around she just can’t seem to enjoy it. In desperate need of a diversion and eager to experience life outside of her small protective bubble, Margaret makes arrangements to go to Millbank Prison as a “Lady Visitor.” Once inside the stone and steel fortress, it doesn’t take long for Margaret to forget about her responsibilities to the prisoners and form a strange fixation on an attractive young named convict Selina (Zoe Tapper). Before Selina was imprisoned, she had enjoyed celebrity status as a medium. That all changed once Selina was accused of assault, yet the closer Margaret gets to the charismatic inmate the more convinced she becomes that her story isn’t as simple as the judge made it out to be. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Tim Fywell directs from a script by Andrew Davies (adapted from a novel by Sarah Waters), and, for all practical intents, everyone does about as well as can be suspected. At its core, AFFINITY is a tale of forbidden romance. Yes, there are elements of spirit-mediums worked into this romantic drama, but, otherwise, there isn’t even the tiniest bit of spookiness in here. However, if you’re willing to suspend some disbelief and enjoy what tale is here, then you’re likely to be rewarded; performances are solid, though some may be mildly put off by the piece’s avant garde sexual themes. – Amazon reviewer Edward L Zimmerman
Starring Zoë Tapper, Anna Madeley, Domini Blythe.
Not suitable for children.