Sometimes words aren’t enough to make people understand how absolutely wonderful Australian drama is. The opening episode in season two of the stunning Redfern Now aired on the ABC on Thursday night.
I was left amazed at the talent we have in this country, from writer Adrian Russel Wills to the performance of Kirk Page who played Peter, a gay man who has lost his partner in a terrible road accident. It was so refreshing and breathtaking to know we can produce such brilliant stories in our own backyard.
Noni Hazelhurst excelled in her appearance as a bitter mother dealing with the loss of a son she hadn’t spoken to for many years due to his sexuality. It was like watching a short film, so much happened in such a short space of time. The audience was on the journey from the moment it began until the credits rolled. I’ve never seen anything quite like it on Australian television. There was no bullshit here. No apologies for the story on screen just a snippet in time of one man’s journey through loss and grief. Redfern Now doesn’t need witty quips or any fanfare to show us the lives of people we feel we know, within minutes of watching them. This is real drama with real life situations and scripts so tight they make David Bowie’s pants in Labyrinth look like something seen on MC Hammer many years later.
You must watch this show. You must. It will take your breath away and make you think about your life and how petty the little things really are. Even in the small scene with actor Josef Ber who played Peter’s online hook up, a difficult role, yet was played with ease and brilliance by Ber who is better known for his roles in cop shows on the commercial networks. This is what great acting is about. Debra Mailman as Lorraine, Peter’s sister, showed a strength that got me weeping on more than one occasion. Betty the cat’s paws covered her eyes in scenes so sad they make me cry, even now, as I think about them.
Sometimes a show comes along so outstanding and heart wrenching that you have to see it to believe it.
Redfern Now is that show. You must make it part of your life and embrace it while you can. There are only six episodes in this series. Dramas like this don’t come along very often, you must experience the greatness that is Redfern Now.
Redfern Now airs on ABC1 Thursday 8.30pm
