LADIES IN BLACK

Comedy
Australia, 2018, 109 min.

Directed by: Bruce Beresford
Screenplay: Bruce Beresford, Sue Milliken
Cast: Julia Ormond, Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor, Nicholas Hammond

Sydney of the late 1950s and Australian society is undergoing big cultural changes. Shy, 16 year old Lisa starts working at a department store after finishing high school. Her more experienced colleagues take Lisa under their wing but Lisa is captivated by Magda (Julia Ormond), a noble Slovenian immigrant who introduces her to a completely different way of life than what she has been used to. For Lisa, this means the start of new and exciting experiences as well as a struggle to assert her will when it comes to her future, which she sees as being so different to that of her parents. This seemingly ordinary tale of a few shop assistants in black uniforms in fact illustrates the profound transformation of a country which accepted migrants from all over the world and which is still reaping the benefits of this today. A comedy about the prejudices Europeans had (and still have!) about Australia as well as about the prejudices of Australians about Europeans and how best to deal with all of these. This movie was a hit with Australian audiences.

Festivals and Awards:
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards 2018 – Best Actress; Best Music Score; Best Costume Design
Australian Film Critics Association Awards 2019 – Best Actress
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards 2019 – Best Actress in Supporting Role; Best Actress; Best Music Score