Josh O’Connor and Olivia Colman’s “exquisite” British period drama lands UK streaming home

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A star-studded British period drama adapted from a book has found a new streaming home in the UK.

I recently checked out the movie Mothering Sunday – it came out in 2021 and it’s based on a book by Graham Swift. What really grabbed my attention was the cast – it’s packed with amazing actors like Josh O’Connor, Olivia Colman, and Colin Firth! Definitely worth a watch if you’re a fan of any of them.

Eva Husson’s film, written by Alice Birch, is set on Mothering Sunday in 1924. It tells the story of Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young), a housemaid working for the affluent Nivens (Colman and Firth), who is secretly having a relationship with Paul Sheringham (O’Connor), the son of their neighbors.

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Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù and Emma D’Arcy also star in the film, which you can now stream on Channel 4.

I recently checked out Mothering Sunday, and honestly, it’s a really beautiful, atmospheric film. Critics are calling it a perfect period piece, and it definitely made me think about how people dealt with loss, especially in the years after World War I and beyond. It’s a bit of a tearjerker, but in a really thoughtful way.

Young Jane, an orphan herself, watches the Nivens as they grieve the loss of their son, James, who died in World War I. As she observes their pain, she also grapples with her own difficult emotions.

The movie has a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning it’s been well-received by critics, earning a 77% score based on 137 reviews. While critics praised the lead actress, many weren’t completely satisfied with how the story was adapted for the screen.

In a review, Time Magazine complimented Young’s performance, noting that while the film felt a little overly stylized and formal, and could have benefited from more stable camera work, Young brought a compelling and subtly powerful presence to the role.

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The London Evening Standard described the film as lacking subtlety but praised its good intentions and engaging story. RogerEbert.com found Mothering Sunday captivating, though they noted its plot and characters weren’t particularly new or inventive.

Both The Washington Post and the Chicago Reader offered critical reviews. The Washington Post suggested Swift’s novel wasn’t worth revisiting, and the Chicago Reader found the film to be overly sentimental and its non-linear plot frustrating rather than emotionally impactful.

Mothering Sunday is available to stream on Channel 4.

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2025-11-25 15:20