My Brilliant Career

Loved watching it! Light, funny and entertaining, with a beautiful glimpse into Australian society around 1900. I especially enjoyed seeing the struggles and expectations women faced at the time — and how surprisingly much of it still resonates today. A charming film with humour, strong characters and a thought-provoking message about women, independence and choosing your own path.

In 1979, I reviewed the original movie starring Judy Davis and much of that still works:“Turn of the Century Australia finds our young author (Philippa Northeast) struggling with her farm family, while she dreams of greater things…a life in the arts. She spends a few months in country society and captures a handsome man’s heart. This gentle story of an early free-thinking female is beautifully rendered, a delight to the eye and heart.”Northeast gamely embodies the character’s spunky appeal. There are several subplots that with enjoyable characters that add to the richness. This feels a bit more like a Jane Austen version of the story with the “will she or won’t she” romantic entanglements and a touch of **** in the struggling poverty angle, but this version is still a charmer.