The Farm

The Farm is not perfect but at a time when banks and big business are increasingly in the spotlight, it shows that the little guy can fight back, and win. Follows the story of a typical Australian farming family and how in the heady days of the '80s the banks threw money around and encouraged investment in foreign currencies. Then the balloon burst leaving financial devastation. Instead of admitting they were wrong, the banks start calling in the loans, forcing farming families off the land and creating enormous social problems in the rural communities including suicides and family dispossession. Colin Freils plays his normal polished role as the farmer who stands up to the banks and, despite it taking seven years, finally forces them to take responsibility. Unfortunately in real life the banks won more times than they lost, mainly due to collusion and corrupt bank executives. It is still happening today. All in all, The Farm is great viewing and a great insight into rural Australia.