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'A Fortunate Life' is based on the classic Australian autobiography of the same name, written by A.B. Facey. It is considered to be one of Australia's most beloved novels, telling the story of an ordinary man who experiences an extraordinary life of hardship, loss, friendship and love. Unfortunately, the 1985 mini-series doesn't do the book justice. Poor casting, slow direction and a clumsy script hamper the production, and while it remains very faithful to the book, it fails to capture the rich characters and emotion portrayed in Facey's writing. Occasionally, there are some good period details, but one can't help being distracted by the awkward acting and dull pace. Granted, it was made for television in 1985 (no doubt on a tight budget) - but 20 years on it has dated significantly. It's a shame, because Facey's story is quite fascinating, very touching and deserves quality storytelling.I never like to say 'the book is better than the film' - because the two are distinctly separate mediums. But if you want to learn about this iconic Australian man, I recommend you read the novel... at least until a updated version is made of this marvelous story.
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