Cinephile № 852 “The Personal History of David Copperfield”

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME

Plot: “A modern take on Charles Dickens’s classic tale of a young orphan who is able to triumph over many obstacles.” -IMDB

Review: The story of David Copperfield (Dev Patel) is a life of transition and overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. In this modern retelling of the classic novel, we are presented with a familiar story and a wonderfully peculiar interpretation for today’s audience.

David, for his part, is an observant child with a wild imagination. With his father nowhere in sight, he is deeply attached to his mother. As he ages, this love and attachment only grow. Then, one day and out of the blue, his loving mother brings home a new man who is entirely too firm in his ways. He has no patience for David or his childlike manner. It is not long before David is sent away from his home to London. His future does not look bright as he begins work that would violate today’s child labor laws.

But David is not meant for this life either. With the passing of time, we watch David grow before our eyes. No longer the small and timid child afraid of the big city, he finds himself in charge of the factory floor, commanding an education, and demanding a better life. Now, David makes the personal choice to flee and escape to the arms of…