The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant (2005)

Brilliant and touching

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It is a story based on true events, but when I saw the trailer I thought it was a story about a female pirate or something. Starring Romola Garai as Mary Broad/Bryant, it is the story of one woman's journey as a slave/prisoner, then an island villager, then mother and wife, then escapee, and finally near criminal. She started out on a boat run by Lt. Ralph Clarke (Jack Davenport, Mastercard's "Priceless" voice). When the boat found an island where they started a new life and village, she met Will Bryant (Alex O'Loughlin) who she married and had her second child with. But they soon got sick of their life on the island and escaped with four other companions. Towards they "film" they become members of a class, but are found guilty in court. Mary is courageous and says she will face the consequences as she lost her children and husband, but the other two she wanted to be released. Also starring a quite good Sam Neill as Governor Arthur Phillip. Very good!

This was an excellent and entertaining movie, with convincing costumes and settings. The depiction of the horror of the sea voyages, the appalling nature of life in the convict settlement (scarcely better for the overseeing officials then for the convicts) and the relative luxury and colour of life in the Dutch colony of Timor were all powerfully vivid and evoked a strong sense of place and time. However, too perfect teeth are a recurring difficulty in period movies! The casting of the main characters was first rate, with Romola Garai as Mary shedding the fragility and innocence we saw in 'I Capture the Castle', and displaying considerable depth and emotional strength. Jack Davenport's outstanding performance as one of the marine officers was characterised by moral ambivalence and confusion in someone half a world away from his cultural certainties. Alex O'Loughlin as Will Bryant was a very effective counterweight to Davenport, giving a compelling account of a convicted Cornish smuggler and fisherman struggling within his own clear if unconventional moral framework. This fine team were supported by equally strong performances from the rest of the cast. Authenticity of detail of costume and setting was not however matched by authenticity of narrative – the script takes liberties with events, relationships and the fates of some characters. Although much is not known about Mary's life, some known facts were abused! However the main thrust of Mary's story retains its integrity and the movie provides a welcome testament to an otherwise neglected extraordinary figure from English – and Australian - history.

this was a really fantastic drama. the passion shown by the cast - most of whom were unknown to me - was amazing and the story was spellbinding and heartbreaking. i don't really mind that some think it was an inaccurate portrayal of real life, the tragedy of each part of the story was accurate for some poor soul at the time. every unnecessary death pained me, and set against such a beautiful but unforgiving backdrop this really stirred me. i would recommend this to all, and would strongly suggest it as compulsory viewing for history students to see just what life was like 250 years ago. i hope that the cast - particularly Mary and will go on to do more great things

I haven't seen this mini series yet but from what I have seen on the trailers shown on UK TV it looks great. I do not like however that the Australians seem to think that the mini series was totally done by them, the UK network did some of it as well so the UK should be mentioned. it may of been made in Australia but it has good British cast. and is well made. so if any Australians are out there please remember that the British had a hand in making the production as well as Australia it makes me mad that a mini series that is done outside of the UK is not mentioned and only the country that it is being made is mentioned. but I think the British will love this mini series as well as the Australian's did.