Review of My Brilliant Career (1979) by Dotsy M — 22 May 2011

Though set in turn of the century Australia, this brilliant film is just as refreashing and contemporary as any film. Judy Davis in a career defining role plays Sybylla, a 17-year-old aspiring writer that has visions of grandeur that go beyond living the restricted life in the outback.

A clever tomboy with little respect to her parents Sybylla feels even more out of place when she is sent to stay at ther grandmother's house in the country, where all of the women are more beautiful and finely mannered than she could ever be.

There she meets a weathly farmer Harry Beecham (Sam Neill, Jurassic Park), who she feels is her soul mate but decides against marriage, knowing that she cannot take care of a family when she cannot do the same for herself.

The film ends on a sad note for romantics but has a feeling of empowerment. Miles Franklin, whose semi-autobiographical book this film was based on, became the first woman of that time to break through the contrains of a society where the role of young girls was to forget their personal aspirations and marry.

An international hit during the Australian New Wave in the 70s and that became part of the feminist movement of that era.