HBO’s Mildred Pierce, directed by Todd Haynes, is coming to dvd. Based on the classic 1941 novel of “pride and privilege in the middle class” by James M. Cain, the five part mini-series (shown over the course of three Sunday nights last April) is the story of a young mother (Kate Winslet) “with a talent for baking who is left a "grass widow" after throwing her husband, Bert (Brian F. O’Byrne, out of the house for infidelity. Forced to hunt for work to support herself and her two daughters, Veda and Ray, Mildred visits an employment agency, only to encounter job opportunities she feels are beneath her. Amidst her job search, she receives dating advice from her friend and neighbor, Lucy Gessler (Melissa Leo), and begins an unexpected affair with an ex-business partner of her husband's, Wally Burgan (James LeGros). When Mildred receives a call from the agency regarding an opening as a housekeeper to a wealthy socialite, she reluctantly agrees to meet with her. After cutting the acerbic interview short, Mildred seeks refuge at a local diner, Cristofor's Café, where fate, and a waitress named Ida (Mare Winningham), will play a role in shaping her future.”

The above synopsis is from HBO, but it doesn’t even mention Monty Beragon (Guy Pearce), the younger playboy that Mildred begins an affair with and eventually marries. There’s a reason the tagline is “Having it all cost her everything.”

Mildred Pierce led the Emmys this year with 21 nominations including Best Mini-Series, Kate Winslet for Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for both Pearce and O’Byrne, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Winningham, Leo and Evan Rachel Wood. Winslet and Pearce won.They’ve both been nominated for Golden Globes and SAG awards as well. If you haven’t seen it, now’s your chance.  Mildred Pierce arrives on dvd as well as a dvd/blu-ray collector’s edition on Tuesday January 3.

The special features (if you can call them that) for the dvd edition:

-Audio Commentaries with Todd Haynes, Jon Raymond, Mark Friedberg on parts 3 and 5

-Series Index (menu-based) 
-Previews (Parts 1-5) 

The special features for the dvd/blu-ray special edition:

-Audio Commentaries with Todd Haynes, Jon Raymond, Mark Friedberg on parts 3 and 5 
-Series Index (menu-based) 
-Previews (Parts 1-5) 
-Inside the episode pieces for parts 1-5
-The Making of Mildred Pierce