My Brilliant Career is a 1979 Australian drama film directed by Gillian Armstrong and based on the novel of the same name by Miles Franklin.
The film was released in Australia on 17 August 1979; in the United States on 6 October 1979 at the New York Film Festival and 1 February 1980 in limited U.S. theaters; in Japan on 2 January 1982; and in Poland on 23 July 2007 at Era New Horizons Film Festival. The film is also available in DVD in several regions, including Region 1 DVD. Some scenes were shot at the Ryrie homstead at Michelago, New South Wales.
Plot
Sybylla (Judy Davis), a headstrong, free spirited girl growing up in late 19th century Australia, dreams of a better life to the detriment of her work on a country farm. Her parents, upset by her dreams of grandeur, send her to board with her grandmother in hopes of teaching her proper manners and behaviour. She is soon courted by two local men, jackaroo Frank Hawdon (Robert Grubb) who she ignores, and well-to-do childhood friend Harry Beecham (Sam Neill) who she grows increasingly fond of.
Sybylla is sent to spend time at the Beecham's estate, and the feelings between her and Harry grow. She returns to her grandmothers' home when Harry is sent on a tour of their properties, with everyone on both estates coyly approving of their romance. Frank attempts to derail the couple through rumours, which leads to increasing tensions between the two. The two take turns attempting to make the other jealous at a ball, leading to Harry's surprise proposal. Sybylla gruffly rejects him, to everyone's surprise. Harry later reveals his rush was to protect Sybylla from his potential financial collapse. Sybylla counters by asking Harry to wait while she discovers herself, and asks him to delay his proposal for perhaps two years.
Sybylla is soon summoned to meet with her grandmother, where she learns she has been forced to take a job as governess/housekeeper to the family of an illiterate neighbour to whom her father owes money. Working in squalor, she manages to teach the children to read using the newspapers wallpapering their home. To her delight, she is sent home when the parents become convinced (incorrectly) she is wooing their eldest son. Harry visits and proposes again, but she again rejects him, stating her intent is to become a writer.
The movie ends with her reading (n voiceover) from her novel, My Brilliant Career, before sending it off for publication.
Cast
- Judy Davis as Sybylla Melvyn
- Sam Neill as Harry Beecham
- Wendy Hughes as Aunt Helen
- Robert Grubb as Frank Hawdon
- Max Cullen as Mr. McSwatt
- Aileen Britton as Grandma Bossier
- Peter Whitford as Uncle Julius
- Patricia Kennedy as Aunt Gussie
- Alan Hopgood as Father
- Julia Blake as Mother
- David Franklin as Horace
- Marion Shad as Gertie
- Aaron Wood as Stanley
- Sue Davies as Aurora
- Gordon Piper as Barman
- Simone Buchanan as Mary-Anne
Production
Margaret Fink bought the rights to the novel and the Australian Film Development Corporation suggested she hire a writer to adapt it. Fink went with Eleanor Witcombe. Gillian Armstrong met Margaret Fink while working as an assistant art director on the latter's The Removalists (1975) and Fink was impressed with her short film A Hundred A Day. She subsequently hired Armstrong to direct.
Greater Union invested $200,000, the NSW Film Corporation $450,000 with the balance coming from private investors.
Gillian Armstrong brought in script editor Ted Ogden to work on the script, which caused tension between her and Witcombe. For a time Witcombe threatened to take her name off the credits but ultimately decided not to.
The role of Sybylla was cast in January 1978 but when the actress was tested in costume it was felt she was wrong for the role. Judy Davis was cast instead.
Shooting took place over eight weeks in October and November 1978 in the Monaro region of New South Wales.
Reception
The film was successfully shown at Cannes in 1979 and proved to be very popular.
Awards and nominations
Won
- Australian Film Institute
- AFI Award for Best Achievement in Cinematography (Donald McAlpine)
- Best Achievement in Costume Design (Anna Senior)
- Best Achievement in Production Design (Luciana Arrighi)
- Best Director (Gillian Armstrong)
- Best Film (Margaret Fink)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (Eleanor Witcombe)
- Australian Cinematographers Society
- Cinematographer of the Year (Donald McAlpine)
- BAFTA Awards
- BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Judy Davis)
- Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles (Judy Davis)
- Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
- KCFCC Award for Best Foreign Film (tied with Blechtrommel, Die)
- London Critics Circle Film Awards
- Special Achievement Award (Gillian Armstrong for her directing debut)
Nominated
- Academy Awards
- Best Costume Design (Anna Senior)
- Australian Film Institute
- Best Actress in a Lead Role (Judy Davis)
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Robert Grubb)
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role (one nomination each for Aileen Britton, Wendy Hughes, and Patricia Kennedy)
- 1979 Cannes Film Festival
- Golden Palm (Gillian Armstrong)
- Golden Globes
- Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film
Box Office
My Brilliant Career grossed $3,052,000 at the box office in Australia, which is equivalent to $11,933,320 in 2009 dollars.
See also
- Cinema of Australia
References
External links
- My Brilliant Career at the Internet Movie Database
- My Brilliant Career at Rotten Tomatoes