Downton Abbey writer’s ‘masterpiece’ drama hailed a must-watch

The fantasy film boasts many of the same actors as in Downton Abbey, and has been hailed a ‘masterpiece’.

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The film has been hailed a ‘masterpiece’ (Image: Amazon Prime Video)

Downton Abbey fans have been urged to watch another “masterpiece” period drama.

Directed by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, From Time to Time stars an A-list cast and is available to watch through a streaming service.

Adapted from Lucy M Boston’s children novel The Chimneys of Green Knowe, the fantasy drama film is set towards the end of World War II.

It follows teenager Tolly staying at his grandmother’s house during the last days of the war, where he is magically transported back in time.

There, he appears as a ghost haunting his ancestors, while helping solve a historic mystery.

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From Time to Time stars Downton Abbey legends Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville (Image: ITV)

The synopsis on Amazon Prime Video reads: “A haunting Christmas ghost story spanning two worlds, more than a century apart.

“When 13-year-old Tolly finds he can mysteriously travel between the two, he begins an adventure that unlocks family secrets laid buried for generations. From the creator of Downton Abbey.”

Viewers have compared the film to Downton Abbey, hailing it a masterpiece, and it even features some of the same cast.

From Time to Time stars Alex Etel as Tolly, alongside Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Carice van Houten, Alex Etel, and Pauline Collins.

The cast also includes Harriet Walter, Kwayedza Kureya, Douglas Booth, Hugh Bonneville and Dominic West.

The film first premiered in 2009 at BFI London, before being released to the public the following year.

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The fantasy drama is set towards the end of World War II (Image: Amazon Prime Video)

One person hailed it “a film you must watch”, while another said: “I watched this for the cast. I love Downton Abbey, and this film has many of the cast. Carice Van Houten was also a draw, for anyone who loves Game of Thrones. I was surprised how much I loved it, though. It’s a type of story not often seen and it’s well done. However, Julian Fellowes seldom disappoints.”

Another called it “enchanting”, saying: “I caught this entirely by chance on TV here in the UK on Boxing Day, and was transfixed from start to finish.”

Someone else called it “Downton Abbey for kids,” while another said: “This was the best movie I’ve seen in a while.”

One person called it “a charming little masterpiece,” as another echoed: “Another masterpiece of drama.”

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“A haunting Christmas ghost story spanning two worlds, more than a century apart,” the synopsis teases (Image: Amazon Prime Video)

This comes after Fellowes addressed the possibility of Downton Abbey’s return after its third and final film.

He previously told Entertainment Weekly: “That’s a possibility. I’ve learned never to say never anymore, because you have to take it back.”

He added that he was “not against the idea of revisiting Downton, but it would have to be in a different period of history so that their problems were different and they were facing different issues”.

He said: “On that basis, I don’t see why not, but we’ll have to see what happens.”

From Time to Time is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.