Set on the coast of Maine, filmed partly in Maine and also in Massachusetts. We watched it at home on a 2-disc DVD set from our public library.
Many characters come and go during the four episodes but the focus never leaves the long-married couple, Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins as Olive and Henry Kitteridge. She is a math teacher and he owns the local pharmacy. The story spans about 25 years, into their retirements, although they were married over 40 years.
Olive and Henry are for the most part opposites. He is smiling, caring, encouraging most of the time, she rarely smiles, she has a very abrupt manner, she has a very strict view of how things should be, and is always quick to correct others and inject her guidance even if it isn't wanted. It seems no one really likes her, not even her son, except her husband Henry is and always has been in love with her. That's how life works, it isn't always easy to explain.
The program is titled "Olive Kitteridge" for a reason, it is mainly an examination of her life, all the other characters are there as they illuminate her interactions with them and her influences, some good and some bad.
I have seen McDormand in quite a number of roles over the years and she is always great, as she is here. The biggest compliment I can pay is that I quickly forgot that she was an actress playing a role, to me she really was Olive Kitteridge.
A very good miniseries for anyone who likes good character studies. The last scenes where she interacts with Bill Murray's character are some of the best in the whole four hours.
Many characters come and go during the four episodes but the focus never leaves the long-married couple, Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins as Olive and Henry Kitteridge. She is a math teacher and he owns the local pharmacy. The story spans about 25 years, into their retirements, although they were married over 40 years.
Olive and Henry are for the most part opposites. He is smiling, caring, encouraging most of the time, she rarely smiles, she has a very abrupt manner, she has a very strict view of how things should be, and is always quick to correct others and inject her guidance even if it isn't wanted. It seems no one really likes her, not even her son, except her husband Henry is and always has been in love with her. That's how life works, it isn't always easy to explain.
The program is titled "Olive Kitteridge" for a reason, it is mainly an examination of her life, all the other characters are there as they illuminate her interactions with them and her influences, some good and some bad.
I have seen McDormand in quite a number of roles over the years and she is always great, as she is here. The biggest compliment I can pay is that I quickly forgot that she was an actress playing a role, to me she really was Olive Kitteridge.
A very good miniseries for anyone who likes good character studies. The last scenes where she interacts with Bill Murray's character are some of the best in the whole four hours.