The Dirtwater Dynasty

I am so glad to see that The Dirtwater Dynasty has been released on DVD. This is the sad part - it is only out in PAL format, and I have NTSC. I don't suppose someone has been so nice as to dub it into the NTSC format? This is such a great mini-series, and a terrible loss to folks in the U.S. who won't get to watch it. It would be so nice if one of the independent networks would pick it up. After all, we can purchase "A Town Like Alice", which is another good one. Hugo Weaving is strong in his portrayal, that it is a shame it isn't better known outside of Australia. Oh well, I have waited a long time to purchase this mini-series. I guess a few more years won't make that big a difference. Something this powerful never leaves your mind, and the music you can never forget.

I watched this epic when it was first released on Aussie TV. I was 18. I watched it again this week and enjoyed it even more. THis drama is well written, the cinematography is simply stunning and the talent is fabulous.

Hugo Weaving plays a magnificent portrayal of a man who's life long quest to build an empire in the Australia Outback.

Living in the Central West and well not really that far from Nevertire where the story is based, I understand the trials and tribulations of life in the bush.

Steve Jacobs by far is my favourite in this film.

I could watch this over and over. There are no special features, no fan fare or special effects. The film relies sole on a wonderful story and fantastic actors.

I highly recommend this to anyone!

'This is the land of my childhood. The oldest land on earth. The place of endless summer and soaring skies. This is Australia. The Outback. A harsh and unforgiving land. I can look back on it now across the track of 80 years and still remember what it was like. Standing on the very edge of a new frontier. Nature seemed much grander then, the stars are closer, the sun is hotter, the rivers wider and in my minds eye I can see all of us, moving through this giant landscape like a strange nomadic tribe. We were the drovers, the prospectors, squatters, and shearers. We were bushmen, simple men. The shape of our lives hammered out by drought and fire. All except for one. The outback could never forge him. He forged the outback. Tonight I want to tell you about the only man who ever tamed this land. Richard Eastwick. From out of nowhere he built an empire, yet like any man who tries to write his will across the sky, he paid the price'

I was in Australia when this miniseries premiered, and raced home each night to watch it. My host, on the last night, handed me and his wife a box of tissues and told us we were going to need it. He wasn't kidding!!

The Eastwick family struggles through a century of world wars,famine, drought, and boon times but is cursed. Whatever Richard Eastwick loves, he loses. Whether it is bad timing or missed chances or just the normal "gotcha" of life, he has plenty of things, but no someone with which to share it. Beautiful cinematography, strong characterization and acting, haunting music, and Australia itself makes this miniseries unforgettable.

I, too, would like to own this on video or DVD. My host had taped the whole production, but I was unsure if the VCRs were compatible, so I left the videos there. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Please let us know if it ever becomes available for sale - even in Australia!

Awesome epic. Now available on DVD. Grew up watching this time and time again and now have the pleasure of re-watching it on DVD. Not a lot of features but who needs them. You have 7.5hrs of viewing pleasure. I have found an unnatural ability to quote every inch of this saga. I can only say it's left an impression on me. It was my first introduction to Hugo Weaving, way before the Matrix.

The music is what I remember most about this story. Very emotive. You can't help but feel sad at each turn of fate. Very different kind of story to movies such as LOTR, no special effects, just good story.

I recommend watching this if you love epics, Australia or a good sob story!