Credited cast: | |||
Leeanna Walsman | ... | Jessica Bergman | |
Lisa Harrow | ... | Hester Bergman | |
Sam Neill | ... | Richard Runche | |
Tony Martin | ... | Joe Bergman | |
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Megan Cooper | ... | Meg Bergman (as Megan Dorman) |
John Howard | ... | George Thomas | |
Oliver Ackland | ... | Jack Thomas | |
Wil Traval | ... | Billy Simple | |
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Natasha Wanganeen | ... | Mary Simpson |
Kerry Walker | ... | Mrs. Baker | |
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Heather Mitchell | ... | Ada Thomas |
Huw Higginson | ... | Prosecuter | |
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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George Andrikidis | ... | Blacksmith |
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David Baldwin | ... | Magistrate |
Simon Chilvers | ... | Judge |
Jessica is a member of poor farming family in Yanco NSW, she is a tomboy farmgirl who has her eyes on the rich farmer in the area Jack. Their romance is soon killed thanks to her nasty mother that insists Meg (Jessica's sister) seduces Jack, and fakes a pregnancy to trick Jack into marring her. Little do the family know that Jessica is actually pregnant to Jack. Once they find out Jessica is pregnant out of wedlock they hide her away from the town. To prove Meg has a baby they steal Jessica's newborn baby and send Jessica away to a mental asylum where she is locked away for years. She writes to a lawyer in hopes to gain her freedom and get her baby back.
This is the mini series based on the novel Jessica by Bryce Courtenay. It was well written and the characters were well played; however I felt as though there was a lot of material missing that was in the novel that would have been significant to the story. I understand that it would have been difficult to have everything from the novel in the movie. I was satisfied with the movie though I enjoyed the book much more. I had just finished reading the book, and watching the story and the characters come to life was great. It made me cry just as much as the book. If you liked the mini series then I insist you read the book. It is a great read and a very moving story. It will help you understand the story better.