The Flame Trees of Thika [DVD]

The Flame Trees of Thika is a historical drama on two PAL DVD-Video discs, following an English family settling in early twentieth-century Kenya. The 5-hour-50-minute story is based on Elspeth Huxley’s memoir, with customer feedback praising the acting and atmosphere while some find the pacing slow.

At a glance

Based on Elspeth Huxley’s memoir of childhood in Kenya.
The story follows a family establishing a coffee plantation amid the challenges of life in East Africa.
The listed runtime is 5 hours and 50 minutes across two discs.

Price

£11.04Save 21%

Reference price: ~~£13.99~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Two-disc presentation provides the listed 5-hour-50-minute programme.
Historical setting and memoir-based story offer a clear focus for viewers interested in colonial-era Kenya.

Cons

Customer feedback reports that some viewers find the pacing slow.

Technical specifications

12 specifications

Disc and playback
Format	DVD-Video, PAL
Number of discs	2
Runtime	5 hours and 50 minutes
Aspect ratio	Unknown
Language	English

Programme
Genre	Drama, Historical
Director	Roy Ward Baker
Contributors	David Robb, Hayley Mills, Holly Aird, Mick Chege, Roy Ward Baker

Release and packaging
Release date	2 Sept. 2024
Studio	Old Gold Media
Country of origin	Austria
Package dimensions and weight	19.2 x 13.4 x 1.5 cm; 100 g

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The listing gives the aspect ratio as “Unknown”, so the screen framing is not specified.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Viewers interested in historical family dramas set in Kenya.
Fans of Hayley Mills and adaptations based on memoirs.
Collectors looking for a two-disc PAL DVD release.

Less suited to

Viewers who prefer consistently brisk pacing.
Buyers who need a specified aspect ratio before choosing a release.

The Flame Trees of Thika [DVD] · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.2 / 5 · 374 ratings

5 stars56%56%
4 stars21%21%
3 stars15%15%
2 stars2%2%
1 star6%6%

Customer feedback praises the acting, story and portrayal of historical life in Kenya, with some finding the series entertaining and charming. Pacing is a recurring point of mixed reaction, with some describing it as slow-moving. For viewers considering a long, memoir-based historical drama, that reported pacing split may matter more than the two-disc format or listed runtime. Aggregate ratings are generally favourable but also include a notable middle and lower-star share, so they do not establish that every viewer will enjoy its tempo.