Customer Reviews

The Road from Coorain

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I think this is a wonderful adaptation of a wonderful novel. The acting is superb. The cinematography exquisite. Juliet Stevenson and Tim Guinee are extraordinary. It is well worth your time.

This Masterpiece Theater film, based on a true story, is wonderfully told. Jill Ker's life in Australia, her relationship with her strong mother, and the tragedies they face are emotionally drawing. I think Masterpiece did a wonderful job and this has also encouraged me to read more of Jill KerConway's memoirs.

Coorain: Aboriginal meaning is "windy place." Intellectual, feminist, historian, writer Jill Ker Conway's bestselling memoir "The Road From Coorain" is dramatized, never capable to equaling the book, but in it's own way, becoming an informative, Outback-drawing, powerful coming-of-age rendition of this remarkable lady's life. Conway recognized the winds of the Aussie Outback as being something like Van Gogh's swirling painted suns. This movie provides a stark background to swirling emotions and family relationships that turned a child in a lonely location into a remarkable scholar. An overcomer.

The story of Jill Ker (Katherine Slattery-"Young Lions") begins more about her mom Eve (Juliet Stevenson-"Truly,Madly, Deeply"). Evelyn Mary Ker began Jill on book-learning as a distraction while lancing her boil. Mom's a tough lady, plus loving, determined to make a life on a 30,000 acre arid sheep ranch. Drought and wars took it's toll on family, lives, and success eventually leading school in Sydney. There is tragedy.

Jill's determination, as rugged as the God-forsaken grassland of remote New South Wales, presses her drive toward exceptional scholarship in history. With Jill's increasing intellectual success comes a more demanding mother. Eve is also reliant on alcohol. Will a dysfunctional home end Jill's future success? Of course if you know the story of Jill Ker Conway you know the answer, if not the means. Will Jill be Outback-content or seek other books to learn from in other world places? Of course there is the up & down of romance in both the Ker women's lives.

A great story of a solitary child, abiding an emotionally-defendant mother, enraptured with knowledge, and experimentally free with life. A feminist without the intent to be such. A natural Queen of women. Acting in this Australian drama is well done making it very believable. Ideal since the story is true.

Watch is as drama, but in the entertainment you are rewarded with the educational aspect of an autobiography/documentary. Features include Conway bio, Stevenson filmography and...
YES...SUBTITLES...YES.

I did not read the book, I just enjoyed the DVD.
If you like Aussie stories here's 2 more really, really good ones:
"The Shiralee"
"Rain Shadow"

The story is well told and Juliet Stevenson is her usual wonderful self. The look is beautiful and the characters are likeable. I was interested from beginning to end.

I read The Road from Coorain many years ago and found it to be an engaging, well-written book that captures the isolation, beauty and people of the Australian Outback. This film is equally attentive in that regard. The cinematography does justice to the remote station where Jill Ker grew up with her mother, father and two brothers.

While the story is Jill's, it is also her mother's. It begins with a young Jill learning her letters from her mother. As her brothers are shipped off to boarding school, Jill's education is at the hands of her mother when it comes to books. From her father she learns the land, hard work and stoicism. Drought hits and their previously happy family takes several hard knocks. So begins a growing conflict between Jill and her mother.

The acting is wonderful. Cinematography terrific. The direction and screenplay well done. Some sexual content makes this inappropriate for children.

This movie, except for one scene of adults in bed, is a great family movie. Even made this adult think about her family relationships. Loved the Australian scenes. Good actors.