PEARL IN THE MIST/ V.C.ANDREWS PEARL IN THE MIST

US, 2021, 87 minutes, Colour.

Raechelle Banno, Karina Banno, Richard Harmon, Ty Wood, Lauralee Bell, Glynis Davies, D or arien Martin, Marilu Henner Sage Linder.

Directed by David Bercovici Artieda.

This is a film for those who enjoy rather heated melodramas, produced by such companies as Lifetime. It is the second in a four-part series of films focusing on the Landry family.

The setting is the South, all kinds of dynasty complications, the family of the rich manner, the poor relations out in the countryside, characters moving from one world to another. There are quite some emotional complications in the background of the family, affairs, cousins, cousins falling in love without realising the relationship…

There is a certain compulsion in responding to these stories which may seem rather preposterous when recounted.

At the centre of these films are two sisters, played by Australian twins, Raechelle and Karina Banno.

A note of caution! In watching them, you may inevitably be drawn into watch the other episodes in the saga.

1. The popularity of the Landry series? This second in the series?
2. The Louisiana settings, wealthy families and mansions, aristocratic schools, scenes in the bayous? The musical score?
3. The early 1960s, the south, arrogance, racism? Moral behaviour? External morality? Propriety?
4. Ruby’s story continuing? The background of her upbringing, relationship with her parents, sister, grandmother? Coming to the house, greeted by her father, the severity of her mother, her sister in the wheelchair, blaming Ruby? Going to the school?
5. The school, the severity of the principal, her speech, demands, punishments, stern interviews? Snobbery?
6. Ruby, free spirit, her relationship with Beau? Gisele and her jealousy? The principal speech, Gisele’s comments? Sharing rooms? Abby, secret, mixed race, expelled from school? The secret, Gisele’s curiosity? Gisele searching her room, finding out the truth, exposing Abby at the dance?
7. The visit to the Clairbourne house, Ruby and the paintings, wandering, discovering Louis, playing the piano? Her being invited again, the encounters with Louis, his telling the story of his mother, the father and his smothering his mother, her affair, the flashbacks visualising this? Louis, the kiss, Ruby’s reaction, his walking out? The further invitation? Louis being able to see better, the bonding with Ruby?
8. Buck, the handyman, Ruby seeing him, the rules about after dark, the accusations against Ruby, the witnesses, Gisele and her behaviour? His being sacked?
9. Gisele and her recovery and manifestation?
10. Beau, the visits, the sexual encounter, the pregnancy, her being sick? The reports, sent away, her mother in the interview, the planned abortion, Ruby refusing, going to the bar you, the help from Paul, the storm, the birth of the baby, calling the baby Pearl? Her future?
11. The sudden news of the death of their father, the mother’s reaction, her reliance on the lawyer, announcing her engagement? The uncle, his being interned, out of his room, into the ward? The mother and her threatening Ruby about the will? The final encounter with Beau, his going to France? Gisele’s letter and news?
12. The portrait of the school, the severity of the principal, the range of girls, Gisele and the girl as her servant, the contrast with Abby? The dance, the boys, not dancing with Abby, the announcement of the Queen, Abby’s speech and departure?
13. This film is an interim chapter in the saga?