No Worries

No rain. No crops. No money. The family has to move to the city. A 11-year-old daughter of Ben and Ellen Bell, namely Matilda, is suffered to leave the Australian outback where her parents face the reduction of wool price, the death of sheep by starvation, and a powerful dust storm that almost claims their lives. In the busy city, Matilda live with no words from her mouth. The situation is bad. But "No Worries" because everything is ending fine.

In my opinion, this film illustrates the Aussie spirit in the outback area. I feel sad with the characters when they leave the land. They smile, then cry, and finally smile again. I do follow this story line. Thus, it is no doubt that this movie hits my mind.

"No Worries" was filmed in my old hometown of Gilgandra NSW (technically on the sheepfarms in the shire, as well as nearby Dubbo) and there were even a couple of girls in my class at Gilgandra Public School (as well as a friend's old house that Matilda's family lived in) who featured as extras in the film.

Having said that, I'm aware that some people might expect me to feel that the film was enjoyable. And for city folks, maybe it was. But as a country girl, I can tell ya that things were depressing enough having to struggle to make a living through the on-going drought without having had it made into a film.

(Actually, it's not like things have improved, not even now I'm living in the "city".)

We were forced to travel to Dubbo to see the film, which turned out to be the most tortuous experience of my life! It was nasty. The word for it is "UGH".

My advice to you is: don't watch it! (Unless of course, you're an insomniac. Then feel free - it'll solve all your troubles! ^_^)

But anyway, that's all I can advise. Besides all my already mentioned complaints, the fact that an 11-yr-old country girl would run away TO THE OCEAN to get home is just total...rubbish.

(Uh, that is what happened, yes? It's been so long since I've subjected myself to the horrendous experience of it all!)

NO WORRIES is a major Australian film adapted from the play by revered British author David Holman. His observations of the Australian farming family resilience faced with brutal yearly droughts and ruthless banks in the early 1990s is keenly reflected with maturity and in his sensitive and heartwarming play. The major economic recession of the time and hard country life ruined many rural families who had grimly held on to properties for several generations. The shock of being forced from their land is a strong theme and it is well observed through the eyes of one family's 12 year old daughter. Multi award winning local producer David Elfick (NEWSFRONT, STARSTRUCK, RABBIT PROOF FENCE) directed NO WORRIES as a film and met with appreciative applause from The Farmers Federation and the Rural Relief Funds of the time. These major Government organisations were grateful that someone with Elfick's professional clout had put their plight on to the movie screens of the nation so the city dwellers (80% of the population) could recognise and appreciate what was happening across the rural landscape to family after family. NO WORRIES was a urban sensation of the time and ran for months in some locations. The media adopted the film's stance and there was widespread lauding of the themes and the well crafted production. It traveled overseas to 13 International Film Festivals and in most cases won the children or family category first prize. Especially at The Berlin Film Festival where it won The Silver Bear. Yes there were some uninformed comments who completely missed the entire emotional substance of the film and sneered "ugh" as if it was uninteresting. Poor them. NO WORRIES had very strong emotional impact on rural Dads who found the reality of family struggle depicted so well to be a outburst they needed. I also was at a screening in rural Dubbo NSW for Farmers and their wives and many men, stoic rural workers were truly moved to speak as if they had been wanting to for years and now could not hold it all back. Basically, the family in the film become refugees in their own country and find the only people who understand their loss and plight after they are forced into the city, are a Vietnamese boat people family who have had a similar experience. This is why, in the last half hour, a friendship is struck like this. Also, the girl's connection with the sea is where she realises there are wide open spaces here too, just like once before at home in the near-desert, and this helps her stop running. Pleased do not ever be put off by dull viewers, and be reassured, NO WORRIES is a fearless and tough emotional family film, a deserved Aussie classic like the American 40s dramas THE GRAPES OF WRATH or HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY. This film struck all educated viewers as a true experience that can resonate with viewers of all ages. The film reviews of the time were especially good. NO WORRIES was even placed on the school syllabus as required viewing by the Board Of Studies and the Catholic Education Board. It is a multicultural family experience reflective of modern Australia. Find it and be amazed at what an excellent film this genuinely is.

I was in this movie. Nothing big, just ran out of a van and up some steps and that's it. A friend of mine was in a few scenes too (trips up the main character during class I think). I remember being pulled out of class and sent down to an area where many kids were lined up to see if they'd get a part. They filmed, what I guess was the city public school scenes, at my school; Alexandria Primary School in Sydney.

I can't remember much of the movie. I think a number of us went to see a screening of it over in North Sydney. We had an introduction from the cast & crew but that's about all I remember. Oh, and the "food & drink" they put on for us consisted of a paper cup of candy popcorn & a cup of lemonade. Ritzy! Still, it got me out of quite of bit of school that day, earned me $50 and each take of my scene (and there were a few) I had to eat an éclair. Not bad.