Stylish Television: Little Birds

Little Birds is the latest stylish addition to the Sky Atlantic impressive portfolio of drama. Adapted from one of Anais Nin’s erotic collection of stories, it features Juno Temple, Hugh Skinner, Nina Sosayna and Yumna Marwan and is set in Tangier in 1955, in the international zone. It is glossy and glamorous, a little decadent, and pure escapism in a Summer where that word seems to mean hitting an overcrowded beach on the south coast, rather than a heady, perfumed air.

Juno Temple plays the lead protagonist, the America debutante Lucy Savage, who marries to escape her claustrophobic home life and upbringing, not knowing that her husband Hugo (played by Hugh Skinner) is gay. She is soon caught up in the exciting city of Tangiers and some of its residents, whilst also being at the centre of a love triangle with her husband and his lover, played by Adham Abaza.

The characters are the beautiful people, and the sumptuous way that Little Birds has been filmed, along with the period setting of 1955, make this a visual treat for the eyes. One of the earliest show stopping outfits is the clinging sheath dress that Lucy wears in episode 2 which she proclaims she is wearing without underwear so it doesn’t spoil the line, it is reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe’s Mr President Jean Louis dress and Juno Temple looks glorious in it.

Juno’s almost prim and virginal style day dresses, often in white or pastel shades, contrast with the decadent, gothic, almost devilish styles worn by dominatrix, Cherifa Lamor (Yumna Marwan) which seem to be every colour as long as it is black. Cherifa resembles a stunning, 1950’s period Ava Gardner, and is a fascinating character, for both the audience, and for Lucy.

If you missed the first few episodes of Little Birds, it is available to download from Sky Atlantic, and is definitely worth a look, if only for the costumes and scenery.

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