"Rain Shadow" (2007) TV mini-series

Creators:

Tony Morphett
Jimmy Thomson

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

7 October 2007 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Two women. A town of secrets. A broken land.

Plot Keywords:

Veterinarian | Debt | Veterinary | Australian Bush | Weather

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Rachel Ward	...	Kate McDonald (6 episodes, 2007)
Victoria Thaine	...	Jill Blake (6 episodes, 2007)
Grant Piro	...	James Campbell (6 episodes, 2007)
Tom O'Sullivan	...	Tom Huppatz (6 episodes, 2007)
Shane Withington	...	Harry Greene (6 episodes, 2007)
Edwin Hodgeman	...	Steve Willis (6 episodes, 2007)
Kim Knuckey	...	Lachlan Balfour (6 episodes, 2007)
Heather Mitchell	...	Sarah Balfour (6 episodes, 2007)
Gary Sweet	...	Larry Riley (6 episodes, 2007)
Nathin Butler	...	Shane Maguire (6 episodes, 2007)
Jude Henshall	...	Stacey (6 episodes, 2007)
Nathaniel Dean	...	Fred Klein (6 episodes, 2007)
Michaela Cantwell	...	Gail Klein (6 episodes, 2007)
Amanda Barkley	...	Pam (6 episodes, 2007)
Craig Behenna	...	Patrick (6 episodes, 2007)
Susie Fraser	...	Shop Keeper (6 episodes, 2007)
Sarah Hunt	...	Simone Garland (6 episodes, 2007)
Panda Likoudis	...	Achmed Aziz (6 episodes, 2007)
Ksenia Logos	...	Stephanie (6 episodes, 2007)
Kerry Reid	...	Robbie (6 episodes, 2007)
Heather Riddell	...	Reporter (6 episodes, 2007)
Lily Robinson	...	Debbie Garland (6 episodes, 2007)
Anna Steen	...	Mrs.Palmer (6 episodes, 2007)
Marco Venturini	...	Jeff Garland (6 episodes, 2007)
Alex Vickery-Howe	...	Ray (6 episodes, 2007)
Brenton Whittle	...	Harry Greene (6 episodes, 2007)
Paul Zweck	...	Pastor (6 episodes, 2007)
Carmel Johnson	...	Ginny Huppatz (5 episodes, 2007)
Jamie Harding	...	Andrew Blake (5 episodes, 2007)
Jeff Lang	...	Simon Barrington (5 episodes, 2007)
Kyan Burns	...	Louisa Barrington (4 episodes, 2007)
Shane Hatchard	...	Michael Huppatz (4 episodes, 2007)
Phillip Monoghan	...	Snake (3 episodes, 2007)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Certification:

Australia:PG | Australia:M (DVD rating)

Company:

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Trivia:

The series was filmed in the dry south-east countryside of South Australia in a region which is a natural rain shadow.

'McLeod's Daughters' meets Wandin Valley

I may be jumping in here, having only seen the first episode, but even at this early stage, my most overwhelming response is one of disappointment. I really, really wanted to like this series, having grown up in a remote and perpetually dry farming area, but no matter how much I try, I can't.

Firstly, the concept of a young and eager vet from the city moving to a rural region in the grip of a long dry to assist the resident (female, middle-aged, complex, crusty) vet - played by Rachel Ward - is a worthy one, but somehow it just isn't enough. It feels clichéd and corny, and as I watched, I couldn't help but think that the vet from 'A Country Practice' was almost more believable!!! Having said that, I feel that Rachel Ward holds this whole thing together. She's a trooper of many years, and the camera loves her.

My real problem with this is the way the locals are portrayed, with names like Fred and Harry (although Shane Withington as Harry looks the real deal!)and most of the men wearing Akubras or a cheaper version of it. For the 1997-ish film 'Road To Nhill' the writer spent a number of months living in the area about which she later wrote, so her perspective was an informed one. In 'Rain Shadow' the locals - so far at least - are treated as one-dimensional cardboard cutouts. Strange as this may seem to city dwellers, country folk are quite complex, and their lives and choices can provide great stories for astute and observant writers.

I hope my pessimism about this series will prove to be unfounded.