Der Besuch aus England

Sally and her uncle work a sheep ranch in rural Australia, circ 1920 something. Along comes stiff and stilted Dad (Blakemore) and stepmum Debbie (Scacchi). Toss in a roaming physician, some hired help, etc. and you've got "All in the Family in the Outback". Personalities clash, eccentricities entangle, and hanky-panky ensues. "Country Life" is an endearing Aussie cum English wry and lighthearted romp which should appeal most to those who enjoy British comedy.

Uncle Vanja in the Australian outback with a perfect rendering of the characters; engrossing, entertaining, and the sad ending as well. I voted it a "10". It looks like Hollywood could learn a lot from Australia.

i think that chekhov has been treated badly in many theatrical productions of this play, but this film and the welsh 'uncle vanya,' AUGUST, [with anthony hopkins] are beautiful and heartfelt versions of the story...those who think this is a "disappointing" film are not getting the point...the story is, in fact, about people who are very disappointed in life and love...get it???...chekhov takes a certain patience and maturity to understand...i'm happy that both these films and VANYA ON 42ND STREET were made...chekhov's characters are deep and tragic, but also shallow and comic...just like the rest of us, eh???...give it a looksee...and a chance...

Usually, I dislike plays adapted to a place & time other than those the author intended. Country Life (the title is from Chekhov's subtitle for Uncle Vanya, Scenes from Country Life) is a rare exception. Placed in the Australian outback in the 1920s, aspects of the play, such as the old man's writings (here, trashy theatre criticism, some of which is quoted) are as worthless as his academic treatises in the play; veneration for London (true in much of Oz, even today) makes clearer the play's characters' veneration for Moscow; etc. Blakemore, a fine stage director, knows his Chekhov, knows how to get the most of his actors (all of whom are excellent) and, to my happy surprise, knows how to make a sparkling, engrossing film from a play by Chekhov, which is very difficult (Mikhalkov is the only other one who has done it, in An Unfinished Piece for Player Piano). A thoroughly delight

The director, Michael Blakemore, takes an artistic gamble by loosely adapting Anton Chekhov's play, Uncle Vanya, to Australia. It works on his terms, with Blakemore doing a fine job as the returning native son. Greta Scacchi, whose effect on the locals as his new and young wife is presented in an effective fashion, also performs well. The direction is somewhat uneven and, as a result, the cast does not achieve an ensemble effect so important for the filmization/adaptation. Sam Neill, as is customary, plays Sam Neill. However, Kerry Fox, a brilliant actress, shines. The production design and costumes are nicely and accurately created. In sum, Blakemore does not attempt to go beyond the perimeter of the original masterwork by Chekhov who, after all, is the originator of the "slice of life" genre.