Returning to Françoise Sagan's novel made famous by Otto Preminger’s 1958 movie, writer-director Durga Chew-Bose makes an assured if sometimes too talky debut.

It follows the recently widowed Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr), who has traveled to the country of Shim to serve as governess and tutor for the children of King Mongkut of Siam (Yul Brynner).

Blethyn, 79, follows in the footsteps of Deborah Kerr, who played Emma in the original Channel 4 drama, which aired 40 years ago. She said: “I’m overjoyed to be taking on this iconic role ...