Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)

Directed by: Simon Curtis | 126 minutes | drama, romance | Actors: Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Michelle Dockery, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, Dominic West, Allen Leech, Tuppence Middleton, Fifi Hart, Elizabeth McGovern, Samantha Bond, Harry Hadden-Paton, Penelope Wilton, Douglas Reith, Phyllis Logan, Jim Carter, Robert James-Collier, Brendan Coyle, Lesley Nicol, Sophie McShera, Michael Fox, Kevin Doyle, Raquel Cassidy

The nostalgic television drama “Downton Abbey” kept millions of people glued to the TV between 2010 and 2015. The fortunes of the noble Crawley family and the ministry in the opulent country house Downton Abbey particularly appealed to lovers of the better costume drama. Thanks to the excellent cast, the British actor’s guild also loved it – and let’s be honest, don’t you like watching the likes of Dame Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Hugh Bonneville, Penelope Wilton and Jim Carter? – to his liking. Of course, the experiences of the Crawleys and their staff seldom rose above the average soap opera, but yes, even in the noble British circles of the early twentieth century people fell in love and had children, pursued their ambitions and were met with disappointments. , illnesses and deaths. Nothing human is alien to them, shall we say. Thanks to the stylish approach – with meticulously arranged sets, costumes and props, the aforementioned brilliant cast and the writing of Julian Fellowes, who already demonstrated the genre of the genre like no other years ago with ‘Gosford Park’ (2001). to master costume drama – we are willing to condone the superficiality of the intrigue.

In order to give the many loyal fans a present, a feature film was made in 2019, which was simply called ‘Downton Abbey’ and was directed by Michael Engler. Because that film (pre-corona) was doing great in the cinemas, it soon became clear that it would not stay with that one film. It took a while before ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ (2022) could be filmed due to the global pandemic. Fortunately for fans, that postponement didn’t mean a cancellation. This second feature is directed by Simon Curtis, who we know from ‘My Week with Marilyn’ (2011), ‘Woman in Gold’ (2015) and ‘Goodbye Christopher Robin’ (2017). Fortunately Fellowes is still present (because without Fellowes no ‘Downton Abbey’!), as is almost the entire cast. Only Matthew Goode, who plays the husband of the eldest Crawley daughter Mary (Michelle Dockery), is nowhere to be seen. The subtitle ‘A New Era’ already betrays that there is a changing of the guard at Downton Abbey. The story is set at the tail end of the Roaring Twenties, the year 1929. There are already small signs of the stock market crash that would shake the world later that year, because paterfamilias Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) sees his wealth slowly evaporate . The roof of the once stately mansion is leaking and there is no money to just have it repaired.

But then the Crawleys get a request from a movie studio; whether a movie could be shot at Downton Abbey. Daughters Mary and Edith (Laura Carmichael) are immediately enthusiastic and invite director Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy) to come over. Robert has his doubts, he has nothing to do with ‘kinema’ as he calls it. However, his attention is swallowed by another message. His mother Violet, the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith, still with a razor-sharp tongue), has received a letter stating that she has inherited an estate in the south of France from a man she knew when she was young. The dead man’s son invites Robert to visit. Though not immediately thrilled, he takes Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), Edith and her husband Bertie (Harry Hadden-Paton), and newlyweds Tom (Allen Leech) and Lucy (Tuppence Middleton) along. Violet herself is too fragile to travel with. The Frenchman, Marquis de Montmirail (Jonathan Zaccaï), proves convinced that he and Robert are half brothers, which turns Robert’s entire existence upside down. Because if he is actually a bastard, is he still entitled to his title of nobility?

Meanwhile, the film crew is welcomed in Downton Abbey. Real Hollywood stars, that of course causes a lot of noise, especially among the staff. The charming protagonist Guy Dexter (Dominic West as a true Clark Gable!) has a kind word for everyone, but his beautiful co-star Myrna Dalgliesh (Laura Haddock) shows unbearable diva behaviour. And that while she actually turns out to be of very simple descent. Behind that facade, however, appears to be an insecure woman with a shrill voice and flat accent, who with the rise of the ‘talkies’ is terrified that her days as a movie star are numbered. But making a silent film doesn’t make any sense if director Barber still wants to be relevant. Molesley (Kevin Doyle) turns out to have an unexpected talent for writing and Barber asks him to write dialogues. Instead of Myrna, he wants Mary to record the text, but for her it’s all quite exciting…

Does the last part of the plot sound familiar to you? Then you must have seen ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (1951), in which exactly the same thing happens: the voice of Debbie Reynolds, which is edited over the images of Jean Hagen. He is forgiven for having ‘borrowed’ this element from the Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen film classic. It looks very charming. As the entire film manages to captivate the viewer, more than its predecessor. Maybe it’s because some lingering romances are finally starting to take shape. Or because the wonderful ensemble seems to be having so much fun with each other than it is infectious (the scene of Carson (Jim Carter) and Maud (Imelda Staunton) – in reality happily married for years – in a French hat shop is sure to make you smile on your face!). Despite the episodic character, there are still the necessary layers incorporated in the script and in the characters. Especially the character Barrow (Robert James-Collier) has enormous depth. He once started out as some sort of villain in the series, but gradually he has won our sympathy. As a homosexual who was forced to choose to remain in the closet, he carries the necessary tragedy with him. Without wanting to spoiler too much, in this film he is finally given the chance to live the life he would like to lead. And what do we all give him! There is also tragedy in the death of a much-loved character, whose name we will not reveal. With the passing of this person indeed ‘a new era’ begins for the Crawleys and their staff, but this person will be sorely missed.

Immerse yourself in the world of the British nobility of the early twentieth century, dive into history and imagine yourself thanks to the high-quality production design, top actors who have grown up with their characters and the beautiful decoration for a moment in another time and a different world. ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ is a fine example of pure escapism of the most endearing kind.