Gillian ArmstrongCast
Judy Davis
Sam NeillCredits
Written by: Eleanor Witcombe
Plot
In the Australian bush of the 1890s, Sybylla Melvyn, a headstrong and talented young woman, dreams of becoming a writer. She is sent to live with her wealthy grandmother and receives a marriage proposal from the handsome Harry Beecham, but she refuses him to pursue independence. Gillian Armstrong's 1979 film, with Judy Davis, an adaptation of Miles Franklin's novel, won her the AFI award for best director.
Sinekatalog’s take
Gillian Armstrong's period drama follows a headstrong young Australian woman who wants to be a writer, not a wife. Judy Davis is dazzling, and the film's gorgeous photography and independent spirit made it a landmark.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.
Ratings
IMDb: 7.1 / 10 (5,639 votes)
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.
If you liked this
Picked by director, genre, era and shared cast. Titles only, no spoilers.
- The Japanese Wife 2010 · Aparna Sen · IMDb 7.6 · Same movement
- 36 Chowringhee Lane 1981 · Aparna Sen · IMDb 7.5 · Same movement
- Fakat Müzeyyen Bu Derin Bir Tutku 2014 · Çiğdem Vitrinel · IMDb 6.5 · Same movement
- Julie Walking Home 2002 · Agnieszka Holland · IMDb 6.3 · Same movement
- Radiance 2017 · Naomi Kawase · IMDb 6.4 · Same movement
- Mrs. Soffel 1984 · Gillian Armstrong · IMDb 6.1 · Same director