"Mary Bryant" (2005) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Peter Andrikidis

Writer:

Peter Berry (writer)

Release Date:

30 October 2005 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Her courage paved the way to their freedom

Plot:

A young woman is transported to the New South Wales penal colony in 1788.

Plot Keywords:

Slave | Plan | Governor | Disease | Gun

Awards:

6 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Romola Garai	...	Mary Bryant
Jack Davenport	...	Lt Ralph Clarke
Alex O'Loughlin	...	Will Bryant
Sam Neill	...	Governor Arthur Phillip
Tony Martin	...	Martin
David Field	...	Thomas
Garry McDonald	...	Reverend Johnson
Dan Spielman	...	Cox
Stephen Curry	...	Allen
Abe Forsythe	...	Sam
Alice McConnell	...	Elizabeth
Linal Haft	...	Sgt. Ryan
Genevieve O'Reilly	...	Allcia
Brittany Carney	...	Charlotte
Leo Jampinjinpa Wayne	...	Woollarawarre Bennelong

Also Known As:

"The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant" (Australia) (long title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence including rape, sexuality and some nudity.

Runtime:

Australia:480 min (2 parts) | USA:185 min (DVD version)

Country:

Australia | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

Granada Television

Trivia:

Shot over 12 weeks in 22 locations.

Quotes:

Will: I could never leave that boy behind, no more than I can sleep with Ralph Clarke, but we've got this far because you could. They all know it, but none of them can say it.
Mary Bryant: We got this far because you sailed us here.

For the term of her natural life

Mary Bryant is a true achievement considering it is made for television. During the last few years, the Australian film and television industry has been suffering enormously due to lack of funding and lack of good screenplays. After having watched Mary Bryant last night it has restored my faith in the Australian industry.

Mary Bryant is a true Australian tale, telling the story of young Cornish girl Mary Broad, who is transported to New South Wales, to Sydney Cove after stealing a bonnet. on the way over she meets two men, Will Bryant who she marries and Lt. Clarke a soldier in the Queen's naval army who takes a liking to her and ultimately falls in love with her the feeling being returned.

The realism of the conditions the convicts faced in 1788 when trying to build a new colony for themselves is very well done - the best I've seen for a long time. The scene where the male convicts go crazy and take advantage of the women convicts is terrible, not so much in that the film makers expose us too long to the scene, but the very fact that the soldiers, including Governor Phillip (played by Sam Neill) just watch, until one of the solider's quips 'the whores had it coming to them' and Governor Philip saying 'we'll just let things run its course.' Having been a fan of Romola Garai's since seeing her in 'I capture the castle' and 'Daniel Deronda', her performance did not disappoint. She is an excellent actress. It was quite liberating to see her break out of her good girl English rose role she always plays - from the sweet innocent Cassandra in 'I capture the castle' to the sweet innocent friend of Becky Sharp in 'Vanity Fair'.

Jack Davenport's portrayal of Clarke was done very well, brilliantly under played and you got a sense of a man who, like in 1788, became very different if living in primitive conditions on a new land, like the first fleet had to endure when arrived in New South Wales. A clear example is when Mary starts to live with him (in order to help her family escape to Timor - seen in part two) and at times he handles her roughly when kissing her (mixing dominance with pleasure) and beds her at every possible opportunity...a far cry to what he would have done in England. But in those times in Australia, it would not have been an improbable romance.

Sam Neil's portrayal of Phillip did disappoint me a bit, as you did not get a sense of the person behind the title, but you did however get the sense he was a strong character, but that was all. At times the story did tend to slow down a bit, but not enough to make real difference to the story.

An interesting insight into the part of history, which we don't get to see much on Australian television screens and I hope Australia will begin to produce as many high quality dramas as Mary Bryant.

8/10