MovieChat Forums > The Forsyte Saga (2002) Discussion > Champagne presages death in TFS?

Champagne presages death in TFS?

posted 9 years ago by ida96
2 replies | jump to latest

I've been re-watching the 2002 Forsyte Saga, after having loved it on PBS. I noted that at least three times during the first four episodes when champagne is brought out or drunk, there's a death soon after: 1) Irene in the hotel room waiting for Phil Bossinney, followed by Phil's death; 2) Jolyon and Helene and others, in process of moving into Robin Hill, toast to new beginnings with champagne, and Helene dies a few months after; and 3) Irene brings a bottle to drink with Old Jolyon just as she sees he's died in the wicker chair where he awaited her. Not having read the books, I wondered if this was director's choice, or Galsworthy's.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6360) 2 years ago

Good question.

I liked the scene where Soames cuts his hand on the thorn of the flower. It's foreshadowing that his daughter Fleur (which means flower) is going to cut him in some way.

[–] whoanelly (1586) 2 years ago

It’s been ages since I read the books, but I suppose an etext could answer that question for you. Just search for “champagne” in the text.

The 1967 version uses a lot more eps and tv time to cover the same plots, so I suppose it’s possible that the champagne toasts appear to foretell death in the later version because time is more compressed?