Jessica (I) (TV 2004)

Director:

Peter Andrikidis

Writers:

Bryce Courtenay (novel), Peter Yeldham

Stars:

Leeanna Walsman, Lisa Harrow, Sam Neill

5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Leeanna Walsman	...	Jessica Bergman
Lisa Harrow	...	Hester Bergman
Sam Neill	...	Richard Runche
Tony Martin	...	Joe Bergman
Megan Dorman	...	Meg Bergman
John Howard	...	George Thomas
Oliver Ackland	...	Jack Thomas
Wil Traval	...	Billy Simple
Natasha Wanganeen	...	Mary Simpson
Kerry Walker	...	Mrs. Baker
Heather Mitchell	...	Ada Thomas
Huw Higginson	...	Prosecuter
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Andrikidis	...	Blacksmith
David Baldwin	...	Magistrate
Simon Chilvers	...	Judge

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | character name in title

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 July 2004 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Apomeinaria enos erota

Filming Locations:

Carcoar, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$7,200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Power, Powercorp

Technical Specs

Runtime:

196 min 196 min (2 parts)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Colonel: [Talking about Jack's will] Another 500 goes to Miss Jessica Bergman.
Hester Bergman: Jessica? Why Jessica?
Colonel: My nephew told me he had hoped to take her as his bride, after the war.
Hester Bergman: [she scoffs] That's impossible!
Colonel: It is now madam.

User Reviews

No justice for the book..

The book on which this film is based is an extraordinary read. I had fairly expectations for this small screen adaptation and sadly, it's left quite a bitter taste in my mouth. Disappointing to say the least.

This film falls apart thanks to its woeful cast, with wooden dialog and unconvincing characterizations abound. Perhaps the only faces you will recognize belong to seasoned actors Sam Neil and John Howard, who each give fairly solid performances in their supporting roles (emphasis on the word SUPPORTING). The main cast? The people whose shoulders the entire film rests upon? Newcomer Leeanna Walsman in the title role of Jessica, tries to bring the ballsy young woman to life but for the most part crashes and burns in an explosion of poor acting. Lisa Harrow and Megan Dorman play the evil, manipulative Hester and Meg Bergman, but both highly incapable of eliciting any such belief in their roles. Oliver Ackland as Jack Thomas, the object of Jessica and Meg's affections, is simply a pretty face with very little substance and/or depth, hardly worth mentioning.

So what is left? Visually, Jessica contains some slick cinematography that brings the era to life perfectly. But pretty pictures doth not a good movie make. Aurally, the soundtrack becomes very repetitive, containing little variation from the sombre piano riff and a moping, depressive violin.

I know, 9 times out of 10 a film adaptation is never going to exceed the written material. But with such great material as its basis this film could have been something wonderful. That and the addition of a much better cast and a new music man... Bad, bad, bad.