Banished (2015)
At its heart, Banished is a story of survival. Though it is set in the stark historical reality of the founding of the penal colony in Australia in 1788 after the arrival of the First Fleet, it is not the story of Australia and how it came to be. Rather, it is a tale of love, faith, justice and morality played out on an epic scale in a confined community where the stakes are literally life and death.
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This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
This is a period piece that takes place in 1800 Australia. Filmed on location, the setting is beautiful. If you haven't been to Australia this gives you a chance to enjoy this beautiful continent... The story is pure enjoyment...Up there with The Boardwalk Empire, Rome and a few others... the acting is great, the writers are fantastic! It is easy to buy into the story and you are gone on a wonderful vacation from reality....and isn't that the best in entertainment? I just discovered it...just finished it..and then found out there is not to be a second series...However, the story has a natural ending even through there is much more that could be done with such a script. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
Apart from that, it is not a historical accurate drama, we don't have to write off this television serial. Don't wait from these show a correct picture of the Australian situation( late 18.century) and of the aboriginal people. It is a drama, slow actions, harsh emotion which must be processed.( and made for mostly for British, Irish viewers focused on definitely the connection between the convicts and the soldiers.) Concentrating on few characters, their developments, how their actions refine their personality. James Freeman what will happen to you? If there still would be a sequel, it would be really interesting, enjoyable to follow Freeman's life in the wilderness. But we will never see that.. Such a shame to have canceled this TV show.
Now being viewed in Canada on Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Unfortunately the CBC has nasty habit of interrupting dialogue mid-sentence for commercial =more$$$. The remainder of scene is then deleted. Don't quite get the neatly barbered look of many characters and the structured hair mess of others. A $300 haircut looks VERY out of place after 5 episodes. The British ideal of 'holding down the fort' certainly displays English ideal of inability to assimilation to surroundings. "The supply boat will bring supplies to feed us." How many months do they starve before they explore for sustenance? The plot may lack continuity through out episodes though the female treatment seams to help gloss over inconsistencies.
How could anyone not like this. It is one of the most gut wrenching and unflinching period dramas I have ever seen. In almost all respects it reveals the hardships experienced by convicts and the sheer desperation of the soldiers and convicts alike. Following the excellent The Village and 37 Days the BBC has once again done itself proud. The climax although I will not go into detail is one of the most nerve shredding that I have ever seen in possibly any television drama or film for that matter. It's this kind of raw take on life that gives Banished and The Village their edge and given the emphasis in the past few years has started to move towards accuracy with regards to entertainment, it is almost refreshing that one of the UK's most respected institutions. I would recommend this to anyone.