mel-baker7

This is the best Christmas show (movie or limited series) I have ever seen, really a must watch for all adults. Though the storyline is all too familiar, it is the behind each character that brings this story to life and because they are all opposite stereo-typical. Absolutely love this and can relate because I am many of the characters that are not often seen or overlooked. They are not just a-typical opposites as well like some movies / tv shows try to do; they are well researched, emotionally understood characters that are real in our societies. And the best at the pinnacle moment when everyone comes together, it's not Hollywood's "the hero" who will save the day - waiting for a storm to pass - it's the unsuspected hero, the one who is vulnerable and most likely overlooked. As a fellow filmmaker and writer, I love it and I truly believe we need films to this calibre of character development in all countries. Bravo!

This could easily have been a movie too, watched all episodes in a row in one night. A heartfelt Aussie drama, with laughs and tears, and real to life situations. One thing most series or films have not done well is mental health especially for men. This series does this exceptionally well, especially the last two episodes. It tells us that it is okay to talk about stuff that we tend to hold within ourselves that only makes things worse. It tells us that we should look after and out for our mates. It tells us how to recognise and notice when our mates may not be going well, and how to step in. And it also demonstrates how easy it is to start a conversation off with a therapist, and that it is okay to ask for help and go to therapy. Well done to the writer, director and producer of this series.

Love a great sci-fi, but that is not what this film is about. Sci-fi comes more into the career the character Brad Pitt and father Tommy Lee Jones plays in the film. The film is actually about the journey of going through trauma, and how that affects your life. Plus how systems, like military, can play with your life and keep you shut down into the trauma space you know.

Childhood trauma leads to numbing as an adult to cope. Whether this is from abuse, abandonment or a number of other issues. Whilst, numbing the pain and trauma can be used for purposes to get through certain events in life can be life-saving to constantly do it, is soul destroying. I know this from my own life experiences.

Brad Pitt's character plays this particularly well. Until the time military uses him and then pushes him too far, and he decides to try something different. Great script writing to show the feeling your emotions is okay, and also something the military doesn't want you to experience. Also part of my lived experience.

If you want to see a movie that deals with facing your trauma head on, to know that it is okay to feel and go against the tide, then this is the movie for you.

It's deep. It travels the journey of someone who is a survivor of childhood trauma. Shows it in a totally different aspect to any other movie. And awesome to show a male struggling with their mental health. As anyone of us can suffer from trauma at any time. Numbing out pain is not the answer but to learn how to feel and it's okay to feel. Be you and live in the moment to live your purpose and also be true to your character.