On the other end of the island they run into two Austrialian POWs who drive trucks for the Japanese. They enjoy risking their lives to find soap, medicine and food for the women. Their world looks up for the first time after so much suffering and many deaths. Eventually Joe Harmon goes too far by stealing the camp commander's prized black chickens. When found out, he is cruely punished (crucified) and a pall comes over all the women including their Japanese guard. When their guard dies of shame they are terrified that they will no longer have food to eat and worry that the villagers they have stayed with will turn them out from fear of the Japanese invaders. Jean finds a way for the women to pay their way by working in the rice fields and carefully negotiates with the village headman.
All of this may seem mundane in description, but the production brings to life this period of war, hard labor, and death. Despite the difficult subject matter, the movie handles all these topics well including the Japanese soldiers (some are cruel, some are kind) and the Malayan villages that they must rely upon. The mores of English colonial life and the loss of that priviledge with the Japanese invasion are also depicted so that we understand how difficult these women's lives are and the horrors of being under the control of so foreign a mindset.
Part II of the story begins after the war when Jean receives an inheritance and returns to Malaya to build a well for the village that sheltered the women until the end of the war. There she learns that Joe Harmon is still alive. The grief that has ruled her life since the war is finally lifted and she appears young again for the first time. What ensues is the "love story" part of the movie; it isn't a mushy romance, but one of two people who saw great horror together and have found something strong and certain. The final part of the movie deals with Jean's attempt to transform the Outback town of Willstown into something that she and other women can live in; a town like Alice Springs that has shops and ice cream and work for girls and women that will keep them in the area. From this transformation comes the title of the movie - beautifully described in the book and barely referrenced here.
At 5 hours, this is a long mini-series, but one well worth watching again and again for the nuances of the relationships and the incredible depiction of life in Malaya, Australia, and England after the war. Helen Morse does a wonderful understated job as Jean Paget and Bryan Brown is likeable as Joe Harmon. There is also a wonderful turn by Gordon Jackson (The Great Escape) as Jean's attorney and love interest in England. The minor parts, played by native Australians, Malayasians, and Japanese bring realism to the movie and each adds to this incredible story.
Only available on VHS, it comes in a 3-pack at LP and a single tape in EP format. Of course, the EP version is much more fragile and doesn't stand up well to repeated viewings.
I highly recommend this mini-series and the Nevil Shute novel if you can find a copy.
Again, this is a wonderful move and I can only hope it is soon released on DVD as my VHS copy is damaged and VHS copies are no longer available in Australia.
