Little Dorrit 1 and 2

This two-part, six-hour 1987 rendering of Charles Dickens’ most popular success is pure astonishment, start to finish. To adapt “Little Dorrit’s” enormous canvas, with 242 speaking parts, writer-director Christine Edzard hits upon an ingenious plan: each part tells the same story through different eyes (rich and poor). We have never had Dickens with this sweep, perfection and shattering relevancy. Edzard’s attack is brilliant; her cast--a nonchalant array of the cream of British actors--responds with performances of immense subtlety and power. Derek Jacobi stars as Arthur Clennam and Sarah Pickering is Little Dorrit (above). (Movie Channel Monday at 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.)