this drama apparently cause a bit of a stir six year ago when it debut on television not take in much tv news myself and it pass under the radar while but after have see it and i be not surprised that it do cause a stir . not particularly because of the content ( although it be a bit more offbeat than the usual tv fodder ) it have more to do with the reactionary medium in this country . anyway and this three part series be base on a book by sarah water and put it main focus on lesbian although the plot also have room to explore some other wouldark side of sexuality . our main character be an oyster girl name nan ( short for nancy ) from winchester . she be bewitch by female to male drag performer kitty butler after see her at a theatre show and soon begin attend all of her show eventually catch the eye of the performer and become her dresser . it not long before kitty be offer a chance to play on big stage in london and have become good friend with nan and she invite her along for the ride . the act get big when nan take to the stage also and the pair become a stage duo . but kitty break nan heart and lead her into an odyssey within london seedy underbelly . i must admit that my dvd collection contain no shortage of sleazy and sordid film so there wasn not anything in this one that be enough to shock me . despite be rather jade to it and i have to say that i be still surprise at anyone who say this film go too far while naturally there be some lesbian sex and other stuff and but it never exploitative or overuse and the film really couldn not have be make without it . the main focus be always on the story while and the story be really well do . the film be almost three hour long in total and but if anything that isn not long enough to get everything across . sarah water be obviously an inventive writer and and the film remain interest for the duration . the acting be solid a you would expect and but i must admit that i find lead actress rachael stirling awkward and hard to get on with at first while although she grow into her role well a the film progress . the execution be a little bit of a problem and director geoffrey sax be a bit too gimmicky for my liking . the story do get a little bit sappy towards the end also and which be a shame because this film be at it strong during the dark moment ( episode 2 be the high point of three for me ) . there not really a defined point to the film or at least not one that i could see . that not important as far a i be concern while however and a tip the velvet tell a good story and more than surpass my expectation . worth check out and for people that like this sort of stuff .