A drama hailed as a 'masterpiece' is set to air on Channel 4 this Saturday night. The film, which first premiered in 2022, is based on the 2018 novel by Delia Owens.
Produced by Reese Witherspoon and starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Taylor John Smith, Where The Crawdads Sing has been lauded by audiences as 'beautiful' and 'mesmerising'.
The story follows Kya, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, an abandoned girl who lives alone in the marshlands of North Carolina, relying on nature for survival. When a local boy is found dead after falling from a tower, Kya becomes the prime suspect.
The narrative delves into her traumatic childhood: her mother and four siblings fled from their abusive father, leaving Kya alone with him until he too abandons her at age seven. Ostracized by society, she survives by selling mussels and learns to read with the help of her only friend, Tate. They begin a romance, but when Tate leaves for college and never returns, Kya is left alone once more.
Years later, Kya enters a relationship with a popular boy from town, only to discover he is engaged. When she threatens to kill him out of fear of his violent tendencies, he is found dead. Kya is put on trial, with circumstantial evidence, town prejudice, and her missing necklace working against her. The question remains: is she guilty?
The mystery captivated viewers, with one calling it 'the best movie' of that year, while another said, 'Never wanted it to end.' Another fan described it as 'simply one of the most beautiful movies I've seen for many years,' and a 'cinematic masterpiece: a heart-touching beautiful love story.'
One fan wrote it was 'NOT To Be Missed,' while another compared it favorably to Dirty Dancing. The film was called a 'must see' and a 'coming of age masterpiece,' with viewers describing it as a 'gripping emotional rollercoaster' that 'struck a heart chord.'
Reflecting on the film's reception, Daisy Edgar-Jones told Elle that 'it's been the thing that most people come up to say they loved.' She added, 'For some people, it's their favorite film. How amazing is that? And I had the best time, and I think it's a great film. Art is so subjective, and you can't control how people respond. You can only do something with goodwill and to learn something from it yourself.'
Where The Crawdads Sing airs on Saturday, June 13 at 9pm on Channel 4.
