The Slap - Nur eine Ohrfeige

Some time ago I wrote a critical piece about Australian TV dramas and received a fair amount of flak from my Aussie readers for so doing. Well rightly or wrongly, I stuck to my guns, but I am now delighted to report that the Aussies have totally redeemed themselves by making a programme which I can honestly say is one of the finest pieces of TV Drama I have seen.

'The Slap' is an 8 part Aussie mini-series based on the best-selling book of the same name, by Christos Tsiolkas. If you haven't seen it yet and you like your drama to be gritty, thought provoking, edgy and sometimes so realistic it is painful to watch, then go no further than 'The Slap'. It follows the lives of several characters who attend an otherwise innocuous 40th birthday party when one of the guests controversially slaps a four-year old who is misbehaving. The resulting court proceedings blows apart lifelong friendships and family relationships and the ensuing story covers virtually the whole gamut of present day social controversies; including rape, infidelity, substance abuse, domestic violence, alcoholism, breast-feeding, cultural ethnicity, interracial marriage and so on. I am sure my Aussie readers would be familiar with some, if not all, of the actors in this piece, but they were all new to me, and I have to say that the entire ensemble cast – including the kids – acted their socks off, without exception.

I will be picky and offer one criticism. I hated the intermittent comments made by a hidden, unknown, ghostly, (ghastly?) narrator. The lines narrated were undoubtedly taken from the novel, where 'omniscient narration' can be an acceptable literary device; but in a piece of TV visual drama, it is simply a lazy, old-fashioned cop-out. Everything told to us by this 'mystery' narrator, could just have easily been acted out by the players.

But I am being picky – good on yer Oz – I take my hat off to you, for a brilliant piece of relevant, 21st-century drama.

I can't find anything to criticise about this series. The acting, production, continuity and so forth are excellent. It's amazing that of the 6 previous reviews 4 were 9 or 10 stars and 2 were 1 star, and scathing to say the least - and yet all the reviewers are Australian, so it's not a cultural divide issue. Perhaps it just boils down to taste. For mine, explorations of human frailty and the inexplicable nature of relationships, when done as well as The Slap, make for fascinating literature and film. There are no really good guys and, other than Harry, no particularly bad guys. These people are ordinary. Also of interest to me was the inside look into Greek-Australian culture. Persumably this was authentically representative, given that several of the actors are Greek Australians and any major inaccuracies would have been weeded out.

Oustanding in the acting department is Melissa George, whose success in the US is not surprising if this is the class and quality of her acting outside the soap opera arena. She was utterly convincing as the somewhat flaky, "alternative" mother of Hugo - the slappee. I was also impressed by the acting of the various children in the series - they were all very natural and normal. (Quite often poor child actors can spoil an otherwise good production.) It was also good to see old favourite Lex Marinos again.

I'd highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys well-produced thought-provoking drama. I'd be surprised if every the naysayers did not ask themselves or discuss with others questions about the rights and wrongs of not only the slap, but its repercussions. Perhaps I am overly biased towards Australian productions - I regularly find merit in things that get universal scorn - so take that into account.

After reading The Slap, and thoroughly enjoying it, I was quite skeptical when I heard a mini-series was being made about it. On seeing the first episode I realised that finally someone, somewhere had created an on- screen production that was really true to the original story.

Each episode is completely engaging, and though it might take a rather pessimistic view on life it isn't wrong either. I definitely recommend this to anyone, whether you've read the book or not. With so many talented actors, and such an engaging story line there isn't really a lot of room for error.

Definitely one of the best things to come out of Australian television since the original Underbelly series. 10/10 from me.

First, there are 2 versions of this mini-series, and I highly recommend this 2011 Australian version over the 2015 version. This one is somehow far better. (I've been watching quite a few shows coming out of Australia lately and they all seem to have a special something that rises them up above others--all the ones I've seen have a very unique take on things, be it subject matter or the views and lives of the characters they present. Quirky, interesting, and very original, I'll say for these Aussie productions.)

That being said, get ready for a truly intense mini-series. This show manages to bring out fierce emotions in even the meekest of people, really riling you up no matter which view or whose side you take--and you will take sides, believe me. And if you think you're all on board with one of the characters after watching the first episode, be sure to tune in for the next of the series as each successive episode will focus mainly on one of the other characters, allowing you to slowly get to know what life is like for each one, and as their deep dark secrets are slowly revealed. Not a sit back, relax and fall asleep thing by any means.

The Slap has to be one of the finest pieces of drama to ever come out of Australia. It boils down to the core of our essence. No one is perfect and The Slap shows every ugly wrinkle. Many people will see a reflection of themselves, and it isn't pretty. But it is handled so deftly that you become part of their world.

Each episode focuses on one of the characters who were at a 40th birthday BBQ where booze, drugs and anger ends with a grown man slapping a small child. From here the author delves into the most inner thoughts of each character present at the BBQ. Thoughts most people would never share with even their closest friends. They lie, they cover their tracks, they live with the consequences of guilt and shame. The old man reflecting on his younger life, now disappointed with his lot, and contemplating never again having the pleasure of touching a young woman's breast. I think that is pretty powerful stuff. Not pornographic, just hitting home the reality what is going on in some people's heads.

No it isn't fun to watch, simply engaging. If you watch television to be challenged, this show serves it up in spades.