'Girls can do anything a boy can do and more'! 'Anne with an E' review

Amybeth McNulty in an opening of 'Anne with an E'. Photo credit: Netflix and CBC Television

I was lucky enough to discover the power of literature as a young girl. One of my favourite pieces of furniture in my family house was an old bookshelf in my bedroom. It was filled with books. Some of them were old, some new, but all so special to me. One of the novels I loved the most as a child was the 'Anne of Green Gables' by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I will never forget it's cover- a beautiful red-headed young girl sitting on a porch of a beautiful house, filled with plants and flowers. It was intriguing for a youngster like me. So magical. It looked like this pretty girl with plaits wangled her way into the Secret Garden. 'Anne of Green Gables' is one of those books which will always have a place in my heart. I was captivated by a story of an orphan with great imagination, great dreams and even greater personality. It was sometime in April I have read on one of the blogs that Netflix and CBC are coming out with a series based on one of my favourite books of all time. I was so excited!

Amybeth McNulty as Anne Shirley in 'Anne with an E'    Photo credit: Netflix and CBC Television

The first question that appeared in my mind after I've heard about the series was- who is going to play Anne? This character is so unique and quirky that bad choice of an actress would have ruined the series. But Amybeth McNulty is great! 
Her charisma and natural talent, along with great acting skills, helped her to create Anne I love. With her pride, garrulity, forgetfulness, flippancy, sublimity and her love for pathos.My heart grows with excitement when I see that the new generation of actors is just so good.
The cast of this series is fantastic. They all are just the way I imagined them. Marilla (Geraldine James) distinguished and cold. And always shy Matthew (R.H. Thomson). Diana, with her black curls and cute dimples in her cheeks (Dalila Bela). And Gilbert! Oh, Gilbert. Lucas Jade Zumann is a dream Gilbert. So intelligent, withdrawn, noble young gentleman. Do I need to mention that I had a crush on Gilbert growing up? The script of 'Anne with an E' is very well written. I liked some of the slight changes and additions to the original story. Some of them were a little bit incomprehensible to me. One thing I have to say, though, no other adaptation of 'Anne of Green Gables' is like this.

Dalila Bela and Amybeth McNulty in 'Anne with an E'    Photo credit: Netflix and CBC Television

The cinematography and edit of 'Anne with an E' are just beautiful. I love the modern way of filming and the sublime game the light and the shadows play to portray Anne's feelings and emotions. So clever. 
The costumes and scenography are excellent and totally believable for the period. 
I can not stop to enthuse over the incredible opening of this series. It is breathtaking, poetic and symbolic! Thank you, Alan Williams and Brad Kunkle for bringing a bit of magic to my life! The beauty of their art, combined with an iconic song from 1996 ('Ahead by a Century' by the Tragically Hip), created an intro which certainly is ahead of a century!

I adore the powerful feminist message this series sends, as well as the fact that the series creators didn't remain indifferent to child abuse and bullying.
However, this is a very bleak adaptation of  'Anne of Green Gables'. What the series is lacking, in my opinion, is just a bit of humour. The novel is a lighthearted comedy, and to me, this is its best quality. This is what made me reread this book over and over. I laughed a lot reading the novel, but I only slightly smiled a few times, watching the series. In 'Anne with an E' Green Gables is not Anne's safe haven anymore. It is almost as dreary as her past life. As much as I understand the reason behind it, I wish the series was just a bit more colourful. 

Nonetheless, it was a great to see a modern take on my beloved story, and I am happy I got to spend a weekend with my long- time- no -see- friend.