Radiance

Radiance is a powerful Australian drama, set against beautiful rural backdrops, but it is the visuals within the story which leave the strongest impression. The intense scenes within the film are strengthened by their beautiful depiction on camera, as if the movie is an artwork. The music is also a major player here, with operatic arias being used unconventionally, yet effectively, against the rural scenery. The performances are spectacular, with Deborah Mailman, Trisha Morton-Thomas and Rachael Maza playing the sisters, separated, but brought together through the death of their mother. Maza is particularly touching as the musical talent in the family, now a successful opera singer, but bitter at having to return home, to her traumatic and troubled roots. A beautiful, heart-tugging 'artwork', well worth the effort.

With the death of their mother, two sisters (Nona and Cressy) return to their childhood home in Northern Australia where their third sister, Mae, lived looking after their mother. The funeral happens and the three find themselves together in the house for the first time in years. With time to talk, drink and fight, past hurts are revealed and family secrets come out.

From the plot synopsis you will immediately know that we are on familiar territory when it comes to female driven movies. This one is pretty much in a well known mould and travels a familiar narrative thread but not really to it's detriment. Instead the film is sparky enough and the revelations/devices interesting enough to really hold the interest no problem.

The cast really help the material as each of the three women are strong in their roles, each for different reasons. They use the material well to create characters that are interesting and have room for the audience to find out more. Of course, the fact that the film is very dialogue driven and features only three people for the majority, leaves the risk that the film will feel like a stage play on film rather than a film. To avoid this the director does a good job of using very good internal sets as well as wide-open externals on the beach or the open road.

Overall you will have seen this sort of female soul searching/family secrets film before but that doesn't make this a lesser film for that. The cast are really good value and the material is involving and interesting enough to keep the film moving along really well. The direction uses the cast well to have all the strengths of film while also keeping the dialogue and intimacy of a play.

I was enchanted and romanced by three lovable wicked sisters. I love the one liners. I love the crude remarks. I love the clashes and I love the final outcome. You could say I enjoyed this film. The Luis Nowra play transported nicely onto the screen with the help of an observing eye from Rachel. Please throw more money her way, I can see this filmmaker maturing with every work she may create.

Tells the story of three estranged Indigenous sisters who reunite to grieve at their mother's funeral in Northern Australia.

Bringing different backgrounds together, the sisters experience trying to understand their differences, tears for each other, celebrating their lives, prejudices faced in the world, adventure and unveiling family secrets.

Eldest sister Cressy, an opera singer, doesn't particularly want to be there for certain reasons; middle sister, Mae, feels she has done enough and is bitter about life; and the youngest sister, Nona, is the free spirit who wants to have fun.

Fine story and Nona is a delight to watch on screen. Actor Deborah Mailman won the 1998 Australian Film Industry (AFI) Award for Best Actress for Radiance, with the film also being nominated for Best Film, Best Achievement in Direction, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Original Music Score and Best Production Design.

Good movie to watch with your sisters.

Rachel Perkins took on Radiance with a great deal of care, intelligence and humour. The three main roles of the ensemble cast shine through Rachel's direction which allows the actors to explore their characters through the range of emotions of experience. Deborah Mailman who, nominated for an AFI award for her performance, is outstanding as Nona the young kid both lost and assured of who she is and what she wants. Still both Rachael Mazza (Chressy) and Trisha Morton-Thomas (Mae) are oustanding as well, Nona's humour guarantees her as the audience favourite. What outstounds me about Radiance is that it is an Australian film - one which doesn't go pastiche with quirkiness (say Welcome to Woop Woop) or the propaganda rallying call of Ostrailya. Radiance, like Head On, exists as a film about characters and a story. Three Aboriginal women who react and change in each others presence without delivering any Certified Political Message (TM)... it "informs the characters" Rachel says in JJJ interview. Alcholism isn't an issue it's an experience; the Stolen Generation isn't an epitaph but a reality for the characters. In short I was quite taken by this film because of its intelligence, strength and humour and it most definitely deserves both an Australian and International audience.