Jessica (2004)

Young Jessica is sent to a mental asylum by her rotten family on a false pretense. Her only chance is a down-on-his-luck boozing lawyer.

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 Cooper	...	Meg Bergman (as Megan Dorman)
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

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.

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Plot Keywords:

australia | based on novel | character name in title | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Lisa Harrow and Sam Neill also worked together on the Final Conflict

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Quotes

Jessica Bergman: You can have a drink. Just one drink.
[gives him a bottle]
Richard Runche: [throws it away] It's never just one! Thank you.

User Reviews

A story of the life a girl who lives in the bush with her family. Set in the harsh Australian outback, this is a sad but very moving story

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.

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 July 2004 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Jessica

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 (2 parts)

Color:

Color