An Exercise In Nonsense

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

To those thinking (review by jk-692-236394 (United States)) this only happened in Australia, do some research. It happened in the USA between 1940's and 1970's, google Baby Scoop Era.The show is excellent and entertaining, much at the subject matter is heart-breaking. You can't just watch rainbow-coloured shows, but face reality.

I was born in 1957, so I have a vague memory of the Vietnam War and how it divided my country. I wasn't old enough to consider how it affected other countries around the world. I'm not sure but that I even knew that Australia sent military there. I always find I learn something from the shows and movies produced in Australia and Great Britain. I'm a huge fan of the 1960's, early 70's music and this show is packed with it. I'm even quite impressed with whoever is really singing. Nothing but the highest praise for the costuming, sets, props, etc. Very authentic. After watching 3 seasons, it appears that Australia was very much a part of the sexual revolution! Babies, babies, everywhere!I can't wait for Season 4!

Since I am American, when I watch certain Australian shows, I often end up doing some research to understand and learn what is happening or if it is based on real facts or history. I watched the first season of this show, but never checked on it until the 2nd season. I found this show upsetting in the way they seemed to force these poor girls to give up their babies. It felt different from maternity homes in our history. Or if you looked at the Call the Midwife show from the UK. I was shocked when I found out this was a forced government situation/program from the 1950's-1970's in Australia. It is truly beyond my comprehension how this was done to these women. It was their parents, the nurses and doctors and I guess the places they sent them, some of them church based, but it appears it was not a religious movement, it was a misguided, parental moralist government movement against out of wedlock women. I find this very sad and depressing. The show is depressing to me because of this as well. It makes me want to time travel back and help these women and I feel helpless watching it. One lady said in a newspaper article she cannot watch it because she is one of the children who was taken from her mother, and it is too upsetting for her to watch. I can certainly see that.

Set in 1969 in Stanton House and Kings Cross General Hospital, Sydney a fictional boarding house for young unwed teenage girls and young women when they fall pregnant and a place for them so as not to shame their families. The birth of Annie's (Gracie Gilbert) baby and the arrival of Sister Joan Millar played by the amazing and talented Jessica Marais back from London and one exam away from becoming a doctor marks the changing of times. Joan Millar the crusader ambitious nurse immediately makes an enemy with Matron Frances Bolton Mandy McElhinney) and Dr Patrick McNaughton (Jonathan LaPaglia) on how the patients and the babies are treated at Kings Cross General Hospital finds an ally in ex boyfriend in Philip Page (Ryan Johnson) a lawyer who helps fight Joan's cause. Bring on season 2!!