Best Historical Period
Fanny and Alexander depicts the lives of siblings within a large Swedish family in Uppsala during the early 20th century. The narrative centers around the aftermath of the children’s father’s death and subsequent familial upheaval, including an abusive relationship involving one son. The film explor...
Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) presents Edmond Rostand’s celebrated 1897 play about a poet with a magnificent nose who helps his friend Christian win the heart of Roxane through letters. Starring Gérard Depardieu, the film explores themes of love, sacrifice and artistic expression. It is primarily for au...
Gentleman Jack is a historical drama centered around Anne Lister, a landowner in 1830s Yorkshire who documented her life and relationships through extensive diaries. These diaries, comprising millions of words including coded passages, formed the basis for the series’ narrative about sapphic connect...
The Judge Dee series is a collection of historical detective novels by Robert van Gulik. It is based on Di Renjie, a historical Chinese magistrate of the Tang dynasty, known in the novels as Judge Dee. The books place murder investigations, legal reasoning, and interrogation within a reconstructed i...
Parade’s End is a five-part television adaptation of Ford Madox Ford's novel cycle. The series, directed by Susanna White and written by Tom Stoppard, features Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall as Christopher and Sylvia Tietjens within a cast of notable actors. It premiered in 2012 and was subse...
The Merchant of Joseon is a South Korean drama depicting the life of Im Sang-ok, a prominent merchant during the Joseon period. The series, produced by MBC, aired from 2001 to 2002 and featured actors Lee Jae-ryong, Kim Hyun-joo, Jeong Bo-seok, and Lee Soon-jae. It was directed by Lee Byung-hoon and...
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light is a historical television miniseries adapting the final novel in Hilary Mantel's Thomas Cromwell trilogy. It continues the BBC's Wolf Hall dramatization, with Mark Rylance returning as Cromwell and Damian Lewis as Henry VIII, and follows Cromwell from the afterma...
Character is a critically acclaimed 1997 Dutch drama film adapted from Ferdinand Bordewijk’s novel. Directed by Mike van Diem, the movie portrays the unsettling aftermath of a man's discovery regarding a local priest's actions during World War II. Fedja van Huêt delivers a powerful performance in th...
Sungkyunkwan Scandal is a Korean historical drama set within the Sungkyunkwan, a Joseon Dynasty academy. The series explores the lives of students and scholars navigating academic pressures, social expectations, and romantic relationships during the early 21st century. It’s notable for its portrayal...
A Young Doctor's Notebook is a British television program adapted from Mikhail Bulgakov’s short stories. It depicts the experiences of a young doctor working in Russia during the turbulent years of the early 20th century, specifically 1917-1918 and 1919-1920 amidst the revolutions and civil war. Jon...
Edmond Halley was a prominent 17th-century English scientist whose work significantly advanced astronomy, physics, and mathematics. Notably, he accurately calculated the orbit of a periodic comet, now known as Halley’s Comet, demonstrating innovative use of elliptical orbits. He also supported Isaac...
The Amelia Peabody series is a historical mystery series written by Elizabeth Peters, the pen name of Barbara Mertz. Beginning in 1975, the books follow Amelia Peabody, a Victorian-era Egyptologist who becomes involved in investigations while traveling and working in Egypt. The series is intended fo...
Tess is a 1979 drama film adapting Thomas Hardy’s novel about Tess Durbeyfield. Roman Polanski directed this tragic period piece starring Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth, and Leigh Lawson. The story explores themes of fate, social class, and romantic disillusionment within rural England in the 1970s....
Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series follows Maisie Dobbs, a psychologist and investigator working in England after the First World War. The novels combine detective plots with attention to bereavement, psychological injury, and the social consequences of the war. The series began with Maisie D...
The Legend of Mi Yue is a 2015 Chinese television adaptation of Jiang Shengnan’s novel, starring Sun Li as Mi Yue. The series was produced by Zheng Xiaolong and broadcast on Beijing TV and Dragon TV from November 30th to January 9th, 2016. It presented a historical narrative based on the life of Mi...
After diving for an ancient sword in the waters where the battle of Dan-no-ura was fought and the Heike clan fell, Tomona loses both his sight and his father. Left with few options other than learning to play the biwa, Tomona gains enough skill to join a prestigious troupe of storytelling performers...
The Legend is a South Korean television series from MBC exploring themes of love and destiny across centuries. Set in Joseon Dynasty Korea, it blends historical elements with fantastical storytelling centered around a time-traveling romance. The drama’s notable narrative and production quality appea...
A Gentleman in Moscow is a historical drama television adaptation of Amor Towles’ novel. Ewan McGregor portrays Count Alexander Rostov within the confines of the Hotel Metropol in Moscow following his imprisonment. The series debuted on Paramount+ in March 2024, with Ben Vanstone serving as writer a...
The Queens Gambit is a stylish and captivating coming-of-age drama centered on Beth Harmon, a young orphaned chess prodigy struggling with addiction. The series is visually stunning, with a compelling narrative and a breakout performance from Anya Taylor-Joy. It explores themes of genius, addiction,...
Belgravia is a British historical drama series set in 19th century London, adapting Julian Fellowes’ novel of the same name. The limited series features a production team previously involved with Downton Abbey, including executive producers and directors. It was a co-production between Carnival Film...
Kurt Seyit ve Şura is a Turkish historical drama series based on a true story. The show chronicles the relationship between an Ottoman army major, Kurt Seyit Esref Paşa, and Şura Hanım, a Russian woman. Notable for its depiction of a forbidden love amidst political tensions during World War I, it ex...
Uncle Samsik is a South Korean television series exploring themes of family, loyalty, and espionage during the Korean War. The drama centers on a North Korean soldier who returns to Seoul after decades, revealing a complex family history intertwined with Cold War secrets. Starring Song Kang-ho, it’s...
Deborah Davis is a British screenwriter recognized for her work in historical film dramas. She is best known for co-writing the 2018 period black comedy "The Favourite" alongside Tony McNamara. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the film focuses on the rivalry between two cousins to be the favored courti...
The Great Battle is a 2018 South Korean historical action film directed by Kim Kwang-sik. It chronicles the 645 AD Siege of Ansi Fortress, where Goguryeo forces successfully repelled a massive invasion by the Tang dynasty. The narrative focuses on the defense led by the military commander Yang Manch...
Shine or Go Crazy is a 2015 South Korean television series adapted from Hyun Go-woon’s novel. The drama centers around the romantic relationship between a Goryeo prince and a Balhae princess, featuring actors Jang Hyuk, Oh Yeon-seo, Lee Hanee, and Lim Ju-hwan. It aired on MBC with 24 episodes broadc...
"Colonel Wolodyjowski" is a 1969 Polish historical drama directed by Jerzy Hoffman. It adapts Henryk Sienkiewicz's novel "Pan Wolodyjowski," the final installment of the author's renowned "Trilogy" set in the 17th-century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The narrative follows a retired military offic...
Ryan’s Daughter depicts an affair between an Irish woman and a British officer during World War I, set in Ireland between 1917 and 1918. The narrative explores themes of love, loyalty, and societal conflict amidst the backdrop of wartime nationalism. It adapts elements from Gustave Flaubert's *Madam...
The Barber of Siberia is a 1998 Russian drama directed by Nikita Mikhalkov and based on a screenplay by Rustam Ibragimbekov. The film premiered out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and was submitted as Russia’s entry to the Academy Awards. It ultimately withdrew from consideration due to...
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is a Hindi-language television series set in Lahore’s Heera Mandi during the Indian independence movement. It depicts the lives of tawaifs navigating political complexities and personal challenges under British colonial influence. The cast includes prominent actors suc...
British television drama depicting the 1665 Great Plague of London and the disease's devastating toll on the city's population and social institutions.
