Redfern Now

Some Aussie shows, I take like a duck to water. Redfern Now is one of those shows. It's extremely well acted, especially the last one I saw, involving family rape, where the Aunt who copped it after the daughter, was so believable, in the wake of her ordeal, her horror aftermath, thanks to serial rapist (Hayes). The players are mostly an unknown cast of indigenous folk, but what a great pool of talent. They're all so good, where I really like Wayne Blair's cop character, especially in the last one, trying hard to let his personal opinions get in the way. In my opinion, this great acting stature all deserve recognition. I've never seen such high acting calibre from black folk. These are the people budding acting students need as tutors. The first episode I ever caught, involved a homosexual black, where his lover, was on a life support, and Noni Hazelhurst was the mother, again excellent of course, where she didn't want the plug pulled, and after it was, it created such major conflict, and a claustrophobic atmosphere between the warring parties, with such ferocity in Noni's character, drawing similarities to her A Place To Call Home, not her character, but intentions. It was kind of freaky. The latest episode I saw- the rape one, was really smart in how it manipulated the viewer, to it's conclusion, letting us think the worst. Redfern Now isn't just a good show, it's real life, and like real life, things can get ugly. Redfern Now, is a show, you must watch now. If you didn't know, Redfern is an inner city suburb, of Sydney, the west neighboring suburb of Surry Hills. You should visit it sometime.

Redfern Now is not a procedural. It is not about indigenous vs white Australia. It isn't a series, nor is it entirely episodic.

Redfern Now confused me for a while; its format is different and sometimes challenging. Characters get developed to a certain point and then disappear (although they sometimes then reappear).

Redfern Now is the filmed equivalent of an anthology. These are short stories, compellingly told. The nature of the short story is that it forces us to engage, and care, quickly...and then move to resolution with equal pace and force - the exact opposite of lots of other quality TV - Breaking Bad, Mad Men - which have taught us that the super- long format of TV offers the generosity of time to develop stories and characters.

Yes, it sometimes employs what we recognise as clichés. That's because clichés are sometimes real, and they are always recognisable and immediate devices - pretty handy in the short story format.

The highlight of Redfern Now is the writing. Any story-teller would be proud of the way dialogue is captured here - real, witty, succinct and punctuated with telling silences.

For me, the acting can sometimes be Redfern Now's weak link. The theatre background of some of the actors sometimes makes their performances a little 'big' for the small screen. On the other hand, some performances are extraordinary, with heart, emotion and humour played out simply and beautifully.

There are lots of 'issues' in Redfern Now that signal its roots in urban Aboriginal community and culture, but many of the stories could be about contemporary Australia in any suburb. The challenges of 'belonging' in a multicultural community, where family relationships are changing, where mobility up and down the socio-economic ladder is more slippery than ever, where our notion of identity is challenged, and where the connection between past and future seems stretched to breaking point are challenges we all face. These stories have resonance well outside of not just the Redfern Aboriginal community, but outside the indigenous community entirely.

Each of the six programs (for they aren't really episodes) in the two series produced so far, have clearly been laboured over. The investment of time, skill, love and commitment shines through in a very unique way.

These are showcases of tremendous writing, beautiful production and staging, and generally great acting - from both indigenous and other actors. Redfern Now could easily become a hothouse for the next generation of Australian film and TV stars, on both sides of the camera.

For me, this film brings to consciousness and display why people seek to be individuals. One might call it "walking your talk", Or, not taking a passive voice.

The film's theme takes on an active voice as we watch the words and behaviors of the young student and his support groups. IE, being black means "having sufficient character and self-esteem" not to sing the National Anthem.

Both groups point out ...well, it is only a song.

But, to the young black student, singing it, equals subjectification. A big word for meaning ... being less than someone or something else.

Philosophically, is this not the definition of "individual" and having your own voice.

At first look, it was dispiriting to witness the passive voices of the school's "aboriginal liaison" and the white male who is also part of the governing board. Yet, in a subtle manner, this is a realistic view of our societie4s.

More passive voices

And riding right beneath the main topic is ...what and how are we teaching our youth. To just follow the crowd or to think through life and societal issues?

For me, the film invites, even guides, me to examine the definitive question = what am I willing to stand up for even in the face of alienation and expulsion. How do I teach my kids and grand kids to be "real?"

How about you?

This series is refreshingly different to all the formulaic cop shows/hospital dramas/sitcoms which dominate the TV landscape. The episodes deal with everyday issues in a realistic fashion; we are privileged to see some of Australia's best actors at work; and indigenous people are portrayed non-stereotypically. Not all the story lines are resolved neatly - just like real life, things sometimes turn out other than we would wish. Each episode is self-contained, but many characters appear in several eps with differing degrees of prominence, so someone who features in one episode as the protagonist may pop up later in a supporting role. If you like intelligent, thoughtful and thought-provoking drama, and you are an open-minded discerning viewer, I think you will find Redfern Now a rewarding experience.

This is a really poignant TV drama series that captures the reality of class, race, culture, identity, and attitude. What i find most compelling is that it is a window into the possible lives of people that face struggle every day because of prejudice, racism, poverty; it breaks down the stereotypes that the typical Australian psyche has formed of Indigenous peoples and creates a beautiful web of recognition for every 'Australian'. I find that every episode (I've watched episodes 1-4 thus far) has made me empathetic, laugh, cry, smile, relate and admire the message that this Indigenous drama carries to the people.

I give it 9 *'s because it takes a stab at issues that seem to be ignored or rarely said in the television arena and it does it incredibly well.

Australia needs to wake up to its past and reform our future. Unfortunately racism is still alive and well; and sadly isn't going away, because people hold onto racist attitudes rather than questioning the past. Maybe this drama can begin something that starts to make people learn; to critically reflect and to think about more than what's on the surface like Australia's treatment of Aboriginal people, what of the reality of asylum seekers, or the ridiculous misconception of Muslim's perpetrated by the media, or the appalling struggle of refugees/Boat people who go through desperate measures that we conveniently ignore, or the changing government policies/History Wars which obfuscate change, let alone other facts of our past like the White Australia Policy and our nations history such as the disgusting aspects of Darwinism that Australia has abused for ethnic cleansing and Australia's abhorred policies of the past Indigenous atrocities that continue today with 3rd world conditions for today's Aboriginal Communities in remote areas and the Kimberly; these are reasons why Redfern Now provides something fresh and interesting. People need to be awoken from apathy and ignorance; Redfern Now provides a wonderful glimpse into re-thinking Indigenous perspectives, and should delight anyone's curiosity with it's down-to-earth reality of people, class, gender, and indigenous struggle against bias and naivety.