Willa Cather wrote so many excellent stories, and My Antonia is one of them. O Pioneers is another, and Death Comes for the Archbishop is another well known work of hers. Oddly, and sadly, none of these has ever been made in a cinematic format. The several of her stories that have been filmed have all been for television. O Pioneers was an excellent Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, starring Jessica Lange. My Antonia was made as a movie of the week.
Despite this, the story is so compelling that the excellence shines through, even in the format which is a bit chopped up. Jimmy, a young orphan from a middle class farm family, travels from his boyhood home to his grandparent's home in Nebraska. On the train he observes a Bohemian (Czech) family, also traveling, but in less style. The girl of the family, Antonia, captures his attention. The Shimerda family was aristocratic in Europe, now they are seeking a new life, and they buy the farm next to Jimmy's grandparents.
The story is a study of life in Nebraska at that time, and also the mutual relationship of Jimmy, who is fascinated by Antonia, and the girl herself, who in her humility sees Jimmy as destined for a much better life. This TV movie concentrates on 3 phases of the story: the farm life of Jimmy and Antonia, their town life, and a very truncated presentation of Jimmy's college and later life. In fact, I wondered how the film would wrap up everything in the story in the few minutes that remained.
The film is beautifully filmed on location in Nebraska. Despite the difficulties of the TV movie format, the story shines through. Also, it does take a little getting used to Neil Patrick Harris in this role, but he does a fine job. Jason Robards and Eva Marie Saint are in the accustomed roles.
Despite this, the story is so compelling that the excellence shines through, even in the format which is a bit chopped up. Jimmy, a young orphan from a middle class farm family, travels from his boyhood home to his grandparent's home in Nebraska. On the train he observes a Bohemian (Czech) family, also traveling, but in less style. The girl of the family, Antonia, captures his attention. The Shimerda family was aristocratic in Europe, now they are seeking a new life, and they buy the farm next to Jimmy's grandparents.
The story is a study of life in Nebraska at that time, and also the mutual relationship of Jimmy, who is fascinated by Antonia, and the girl herself, who in her humility sees Jimmy as destined for a much better life. This TV movie concentrates on 3 phases of the story: the farm life of Jimmy and Antonia, their town life, and a very truncated presentation of Jimmy's college and later life. In fact, I wondered how the film would wrap up everything in the story in the few minutes that remained.
The film is beautifully filmed on location in Nebraska. Despite the difficulties of the TV movie format, the story shines through. Also, it does take a little getting used to Neil Patrick Harris in this role, but he does a fine job. Jason Robards and Eva Marie Saint are in the accustomed roles.