cheezybakedbeans

Nicholas Winton is an incredible person. If you haven't seen anything about his life, or the clips from "That's Life" (on YouTube) I would highly recommend it. He's the kind of brilliant person that can restore your faith in humanity.

And this adaption is a really decent depiction of his life's work, even if it simplifies things a bit. Anthony Hopkins is, of course, amazing, though I think Johnny Flynn who plays younger Nicholas Winton, deserves a lot of credit too. Most of the writing is good. I definitely teared up, and I learner a lot more about him.

As far as flaws, there are a few little bits that come across as contrived and cliche in the past segments, where it's clear they're trying to use a few children to symbolise the many. In a way that short changes what he did. It makes it feel like it was a much smaller operation than it was.

It also very much goes down the heartwarming route, and it steers away from depicting the real horror and grief, staying much more on a surface-level. I didn't mind watching a less sad film though.

I think I was also a bit disappointed that we didn't see much of his life between what he did and being recognised for it. Something that is so interesting with him is how long it took him to get recognised, and why.

But saying all that, I still really enjoyed the film, and teared up, and it was a really lovely tribute to him as a person, his heroic acts and the history. I hope it's a film they show kids in history class because he deserves to be remembered.

I've seen The Dry three times (twice when it was in cinema, and once later), and read the book, and loved it every time. It's an extremely faithful adaption of the book, beautifully acted and shot... And an Australian film I loved especially as an Australian. It's rare I've liked an Australian film as much as this one. Sadly, I think, it's extremely underrated precisely because it's Australian as well. Hence me determinedly giving it 10 stars, though there are a few things I wished they'd included from the book.

I truly don't believe anybody with no personal connection to Australia can really fully appreciate a film like this, because so much of it, like the overwhelming fear of drought and bushfires that pervades it, is especially real to many Australians. I remember that primal fear as a kid. The constant fear of the droughts in the news. Harsh water restrictions. When Mum had to hose down the house and pack our bags in case we had to flee during historic bushfires. Every Australian has sat and watched horrific bushfires and droughts in the news, or smelled and seen the smoke, even if they haven't experienced it directly. Australians had suffered through six months of hellish bushfires right before the pandemic, during which this film aired, so Australians get it. It's in our psyche.

As far as the criticism I've seen that the pacing of the film is too slow, I have to thoroughly disagree. Firstly, it's a slow burn exactly like the book is so it's never pretending to be a thriller. I think it's unfair to judge a film for its genre. The book also follows a lot of the conventions of Australian realism, as does the film, and that is the style of that subgenre. It's not an American film, or a British film, and it's not trying to be.

Secondly, the pace so perfectly encapsulates the story and the environment. It's a pervading desolation that builds and builds in the town. The Australian outback is vast, dry, brutal and suffocating. The secrecy, suffering and grief of the town is suffocating. Aaron feels suffocated by how the town treats him, as he does for what happened in this past.

There are some bits from the book that I would've liked them to keep. I think some of the criticism some people have had of the ending being too rushed (which I don't agree with) would've been fixed if they'd speckled in a few more hints that were in the book. At the same time, film adaptions have to streamline some plots for necessity sake. And this is overall is an extremely faithful adaption. I'm really excited it's getting a sequel. Aaron Falk is a lead character I would happily watch more of.

Disclaimer: I would give this show a 8.5 or 9/10 but as I can see there is already some review bombing starting (including from people overseas who can't even watch the show legally)... It's getting a 10! This is exactly the kind of Australian content I want to see! A rare show clearly made by women for women but also just a damn fine Australian drama.

It has messy, complicated female characters who are all distinct, interesting to follow and equal parts deeply flawed and sympathetic. I didn't find any of them frustrating to follow in the episodes where they were the focus (each of the main three characters has two episodes focussed on them- as indicated by the titles of the episodes). I also found the relationship/friendship between the three women believably fractured and loaded for what they've been through, filled with subtext, secrets, and differing perspectives. Yet, at the core you can see the deep bond between the three.

It also has a complex and relevant story navigating trauma, friendship, family, memory, justice etc. I feel like just about every woman (and probably a lot of men too) can relate to the major traumatic event of the series and I generally like how it's handled. The show never feels like it is exploiting, glorifying or making a spectacle out of the trauma, and the mystery of what happened is less important than its fallout. It also deals with the justice system, and, once again, it is both infuriating and true to what goes on. Something I also love is how natural most of the dialogue is. The characters sound really unashamedly Australian in how they speak.

It also has a really beautiful Australian setting. It's so great seeing more stunning Australian areas getting featured in shows. Especially regional coastal areas of Australia. Australian film/TV has a big issue with always setting shows/films either in very rural Australian towns (usually drought-stricken, barren) or pockets of very white, coastal city suburbia. Regional coastal Australia especially has been woefully neglected and it's about time that changed.

Then there's the acting, which is top tier. The acting from the leads especially is incredible! It's so good! The three are powerhouses together, and there is never a sense of them trying to figure out the roles. They nail it from the start. All the emotional moments of the show hit so well. It's very satisfying to watch.

And a special kudos to Jodie Whittaker, who manages to pull off one of the best Australian accents out there, and still somehow give an amazing, understated and nuanced performance. Also as an Australian I feel so honoured that Jodie Whittaker picked an Australian show for her first role out of Doctor Who and was apparently willing to cut her maternity leave short and relocate here on the other side of the planet for months to film. That's commitment! Especially as she clearly put the hard yards into her Australian accent. She can come back here and play another Australian any time she likes! Seriously! She's an honorary Australian in my eyes and I'm sure many other Australians for that accent alone.

As for flaws, there are a few things but nothing that major. Some might understandably complain the pacing is slow at points, but I honestly didn't mind because I quite like a slow burn, and this kind of story flourishes in the character drama. I suppose that's personal preference. There were a few minor side characters or plotlines I wasn't as keen on, and a few plotlines/ plot points that felt like they weren't fully resolved or were dropped too quickly or conveniently, but nothing that left me feeling very dissatisfied. There was the rare line of dialogue that was a bit too obvious, and a few shots of the past felt a bit too on-the-nose whimsical. But overall I really enjoyed this miniseries and its attributes far outweighed its flaws! Definitely plan on rewatching it soon and I hope to see more Australian shows like it coming out! I love how many great Australian shows are coming out this year!