Marking Time (TV 2003)

The two-part mini-series is a "Romeo and Juliet" story set in a rural Australian town. MARKING TIME traces Hal's journey from boy to man over the period of one year. At the outset, the town... See full summary »

Director:

Cherie Nowlan

Writer:

John Doyle

Stars:

Abe Forsythe, Geoff Morrell, Elena Carapetis

9 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Abe Forsythe	...	Hal Fleming
Geoff Morrell	...	Geoff Fleming
Elena Carapetis	...	Gemma
Bojana Novakovic	...	Randa
Matthew Le Nevez	...	Bullet Sheather
Abbie Cornish	...	Tracey
Katie Wall	...	Belinda
Gyton Grantley	...	Shane Sheather
Scott Swalwell	...	Jamie
Lech Mackiewicz	...	Hassan
Graeme Blundell	...	Ralph Dare
Anthony Simcoe	...	Scott Seaton
Brian Meegan	...	Ross Ferguson
Matthew Lilley	...	Todd Paynter
Barbara Morton	...	Marie Stockard

Storyline

The two-part mini-series is a "Romeo and Juliet" story set in a rural Australian town. MARKING TIME traces Hal's journey from boy to man over the period of one year. At the outset, the town and the country are intoxicated with the spirit of the Olympics, and the Centenary of Federation. Hal gets his licence, first car, the right to drink, the right to vote, and falls in love with Randa, a young Afghani refugee. But there is a shifting of consciousness in the town and the nation about refugees, border protection and their place in the world. Hal's heart is broken when he realises that his town is one in which he no longer belongs.

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Plot Keywords:

australian | storytelling | beauty queen | voice over narration | father son relationship | 

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Taglines:

Marking Time is the coming of age of a boy and a nation

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

ABC [Australia]

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 November 2003 (Australia)

Filming Locations:

Singleton, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Australian Film Commission, The, Southern Star

Technical Specs

Runtime:

230 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Won a record 7 AFI Awards in 2004.

User Reviews

Powerful Stuff

This is the greatest show ever. It portrays the real message refugees received from the majority of Australians when they tried to enter the country illegally and yet were sent away or locked up in detention (even the children; in fact, many are STILL there). The message is not forced in your face, it is subtle and allows room for your own opinion. Hal, the story's narrator, is like a lot of rural Australians: lazy, indifferent and a "light" user of drugs. The things he and his acquaintances get up to are another issue facing the youth of now. There are many messages lying in the story, yet none are overdone and all are very important, prophetic messages. There is humour at the appropriate times to bring up the mood a bit but by the end, you'll be in tears.

It would've taken John Doyle, of all things a popular comedian, a lot of guts to write this because it goes against the common opinion of an entire nation and was actually dismissed by many as mere fiction. The single problem with Marking Time is there are only four episodes.