Redfern Now (2012–2013) User Reviews

Powerful Drama

[node-03 · 9/10 · 25 November 2012]

This is a really poignant TV drama series that captures the reality of class, race, culture, identity, and attitude. What i find most compelling is that it is a window into the possible lives of people that face struggle every day because of prejudice, racism, poverty; it breaks down the stereotypes that the typical Australian psyche has formed of Indigenous peoples and creates a beautiful web of recognition for every 'Australian'. I find that every episode (I've watched episodes 1-4 thus far) has made me empathetic, laugh, cry, smile, relate and admire the message that this Indigenous drama carries to the people.

I give it 9 *'s because it takes a stab at issues that seem to be ignored or rarely said in the television arena and it does it incredibly well.

Australia needs to wake up to its past and reform our future. Unfortunately racism is still alive and well; and sadly isn't going away, because people hold onto racist attitudes rather than questioning the past. Maybe this drama can begin something that starts to make people learn; to critically reflect and to think about more than what's on the surface like Australia's treatment of Aboriginal people, what of the reality of asylum seekers, or the ridiculous misconception of Muslim's perpetrated by the media, or the appalling struggle of refugees/Boat people who go through desperate measures that we conveniently ignore, or the changing government policies/History Wars which obfuscate change, let alone other facts of our past like the White Australia Policy and our nations history such as the disgusting aspects of Darwinism that Australia has abused for ethnic cleansing and Australia's abhorred policies of the past Indigenous atrocities that continue today with 3rd world conditions for today's Aboriginal Communities in remote areas and the Kimberly; these are reasons why Redfern Now provides something fresh and interesting. People need to be awoken from apathy and ignorance; Redfern Now provides a wonderful glimpse into re-thinking Indigenous perspectives, and should delight anyone's curiosity with it's down-to-earth reality of people, class, gender, and indigenous struggle against bias and naivety.

Excellent viewing for a discerning audience

[joanh-1 · 9/10 · 4 December 2013]

This series is refreshingly different to all the formulaic cop shows/hospital dramas/sitcoms which dominate the TV landscape. The episodes deal with everyday issues in a realistic fashion; we are privileged to see some of Australia's best actors at work; and indigenous people are portrayed non-stereotypically. Not all the story lines are resolved neatly - just like real life, things sometimes turn out other than we would wish. Each episode is self-contained, but many characters appear in several eps with differing degrees of prominence, so someone who features in one episode as the protagonist may pop up later in a supporting role. If you like intelligent, thoughtful and thought-provoking drama, and you are an open-minded discerning viewer, I think you will find Redfern Now a rewarding experience.

Great Australian TV. Great FOR Australian TV

[KittieC · 8/10 · 26 December 2013]

Redfern Now is not a procedural. It is not about indigenous vs white Australia. It isn't a series, nor is it entirely episodic.

Redfern Now confused me for a while; its format is different and sometimes challenging. Characters get developed to a certain point and then disappear (although they sometimes then reappear).

Redfern Now is the filmed equivalent of an anthology. These are short stories, compellingly told. The nature of the short story is that it forces us to engage, and care, quickly...and then move to resolution with equal pace and force - the exact opposite of lots of other quality TV - Breaking Bad, Mad Men - which have taught us that the super- long format of TV offers the generosity of time to develop stories and characters.

Yes, it sometimes employs what we recognise as clichés. That's because clichés are sometimes real, and they are always recognisable and immediate devices - pretty handy in the short story format.

The highlight of Redfern Now is the writing. Any story-teller would be proud of the way dialogue is captured here - real, witty, succinct and punctuated with telling silences.

For me, the acting can sometimes be Redfern Now's weak link. The theatre background of some of the actors sometimes makes their performances a little 'big' for the small screen. On the other hand, some performances are extraordinary, with heart, emotion and humour played out simply and beautifully.

There are lots of 'issues' in Redfern Now that signal its roots in urban Aboriginal community and culture, but many of the stories could be about contemporary Australia in any suburb. The challenges of 'belonging' in a multicultural community, where family relationships are changing, where mobility up and down the socio-economic ladder is more slippery than ever, where our notion of identity is challenged, and where the connection between past and future seems stretched to breaking point are challenges we all face. These stories have resonance well outside of not just the Redfern Aboriginal community, but outside the indigenous community entirely.

Each of the six programs (for they aren't really episodes) in the two series produced so far, have clearly been laboured over. The investment of time, skill, love and commitment shines through in a very unique way.

These are showcases of tremendous writing, beautiful production and staging, and generally great acting - from both indigenous and other actors. Redfern Now could easily become a hothouse for the next generation of Australian film and TV stars, on both sides of the camera.

Realistic and honest

[kittyctc2008 · 8/10 · 11 December 2013]

Badlandz didn't know what he was talking about. If he knew it's actually worse because oh yea we need another American to comment on the intricate and complicated societal Australian problems that were brilliantly reflected and acted in the series. I love the dialog, the emotional weight between the silences, the pauses, which is distinctly Australian; while some might prefer a 50 min drama filled with clever non- clichéd witty dialogue with Tom-Cruise-facial-contortion-style of acting, normally people don't act this way and I think it's the show's purpose to honestly and realistically portray the multi-facets of contemporary Aboriginal lives in Australia.

In your face drama, you can't turn blinders too

[videorama-759-859391 · 8/10 · 2 May 2016]

Some Aussie shows, I take like a duck to water. Redfern Now is one of those shows. It's extremely well acted, especially the last one I saw, involving family rape, where the Aunt who copped it after the daughter, was so believable, in the wake of her ordeal, her horror aftermath, thanks to serial rapist (Hayes). The players are mostly an unknown cast of indigenous folk, but what a great pool of talent. They're all so good, where I really like Wayne Blair's cop character, especially in the last one, trying hard to let his personal opinions get in the way. In my opinion, this great acting stature all deserve recognition. I've never seen such high acting calibre from black folk. These are the people budding acting students need as tutors. The first episode I ever caught, involved a homosexual black, where his lover, was on a life support, and Noni Hazelhurst was the mother, again excellent of course, where she didn't want the plug pulled, and after it was, it created such major conflict, and a claustrophobic atmosphere between the warring parties, with such ferocity in Noni's character, drawing similarities to her A Place To Call Home, not her character, but intentions. It was kind of freaky. The latest episode I saw- the rape one, was really smart in how it manipulated the viewer, to it's conclusion, letting us think the worst. Redfern Now isn't just a good show, it's real life, and like real life, things can get ugly. Redfern Now, is a show, you must watch now. If you didn't know, Redfern is an inner city suburb, of Sydney, the west neighboring suburb of Surry Hills. You should visit it sometime.

So glad I discovered this show-what a gem!

[missmelissa80 · 9/10 · 6 July 2016]

I was initially introduced to this show after I watched the movie Redfern Now: Promise Me on Netflix. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and thought the acting was top notch, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out about the short lived series with some of the same characters. I've read reviews comparing it to a soap opera but I disagree with that comparison. The acting is much more realistic with incredibly unique story lines that are also surprisingly relevant- even in my own neck of the woods. For example: today I watched the episode Pretty Boy Blue, where Aaron unknowingly allows the inmate who lived in his neighborhood to die while in police custody. Just yesterday, in a city 50 miles west of me, a young man was shot in the back while being detained by police officers. The circumstances are a bit different, but overall this seems to be a recurring issue in society today. I really appreciate how this show offers various perspectives about issues that this world would do good to ponder and discuss. If only more shows would follow this formula of showing multiple viewpoints rather than pushing just one specific agenda...Pity this show only lasted two seasons. It'd be great if Netflix would pick it up where it left off, maybe there will be another movie? Looking forward to seeing these actors in more projects!

Well done

[cfowles · 9/10 · 9 July 2016]

Those expecting bushmen, or didgeridoo, will be very disappointed. Those that don't are in for a treat. The show takes place in Redfern, a poorer part of Sydney, where hundreds of years of intermarriage has made for a lighter skin people, who for whatever reason still are blackfellas in a whitefella world. It's a fine balancing act, brought off with skillful portrayals in the series. Don't expect car chase shoot-um-up action.

Excellent acting with story lines that weave between a number of families who come and go throughout the series. This drama series won numerous Australian awards, and had very favourable reviews by the general Australian population.

Stand up = walk your talk

[ajmoen-67467 · 9/10 · 27 March 2017]

For me, this film brings to consciousness and display why people seek to be individuals. One might call it "walking your talk", Or, not taking a passive voice.

The film's theme takes on an active voice as we watch the words and behaviors of the young student and his support groups. IE, being black means "having sufficient character and self-esteem" not to sing the National Anthem.

Both groups point out ...well, it is only a song.

But, to the young black student, singing it, equals subjectification. A big word for meaning ... being less than someone or something else.

Philosophically, is this not the definition of "individual" and having your own voice.

At first look, it was dispiriting to witness the passive voices of the school's "aboriginal liaison" and the white male who is also part of the governing board. Yet, in a subtle manner, this is a realistic view of our societie4s.

More passive voices

And riding right beneath the main topic is ...what and how are we teaching our youth. To just follow the crowd or to think through life and societal issues?

For me, the film invites, even guides, me to examine the definitive question = what am I willing to stand up for even in the face of alienation and expulsion. How do I teach my kids and grand kids to be "real?"

How about you?

Your average tear-jerker series

[qui_j · 5/10 · 2 August 2017]

This is an interesting Australian produced series that details the lives and struggles of working class indigenous people. The first season was better than the second, and after the first couple of episodes, patterns started to emerge, and a certain amount of "sameness" crept in. It's as if the writing had become lazy. In a few of the episodes, the casting is really off e.g in the episode with the daughter confronting the death of her father, it would have been far more believable to have another actress play the age specific role. Having this played by someone in their 40s, wearing pigtails just doesn't cut it. It may have had something to do with the film's budget, who knows. In a couple of the episodes, there was no suitable end. The story just ended abruptly, leaving the viewer in limbo.

I was not surprised by the fact that there were only 2 seasons as I feel the story of the community had been told, and there was no more to share. Others have commented on the slowness of the episodes, the long pauses, extreme close ups of lips, eyes, noses etc, and I would also say that each story could have been told in 25-minute episodes. They just felt dragged out at almost 1 hour. It's a good series to watch but not one that lends itself to "binge-watching"!

A Rare Look at Working Class Indigenous in Australia

[swinggold · 5/10 · 21 June 2016]

Just watched this on Netflix. It was a really interesting show. I really love seeing movies or TV shows about different ethnicities living normal lives rather than as stereotypes. Indigenous Australians have always fascinated me. They rarely get seen on TV here in the US and I can't count the number of times I've seen aborigines portrayed as regular people on one hand. What always springs to mind is the David Bowie video "Let's Dance", that featured the young aborigine teens. I'd also seen Rabbit Proof Fence and a few other movies. There were some great episodes and it's a pity the show didn't last longer than twelve episodes.

As an American, my impression of indigenous Aussies has been of the dark-skinned aborigine bushmen tribes and peoples, so I expected to see more of people with a darker skin tone. While I recognize that like African Americans, there are many indigenous Aussies who are also a mix of Europeans and other races, what I see in the series is mostly mixed raced indigenous and island people. So of course my impression is that this cast is chosen for their appealing looks to interest white viewers rather than authenticity or true aboriginal culture. Forgive me for being ignorant but I've seen other Australian movies that featured aborigines who weren't light-skinned with European features yet this series has maybe one episode with a real blackfella with dark skin and his role is relegated to 10-15 seconds of screen time and four lines. I'm not saying the actors here shouldn't be included or recognized as great indigenous artists, quite the contrary. Many of the performances there are top notch. Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair, Lisa Flanagan and Rarriwuy Hick especially stand out for great acting and beauty. I just would have preferred that the casting had been more inclusive of the full diaspora of the culture. The few other instances of dark- skinned aborigines in the series amount to background figures cast as homeless people or drunks with no dialogue.

Slow moving repetitive drama with good intentions

[meadway-06607 · 3/10 · 26 April 2015]

Maybe one has to be Australian to like this series. But not for anyone who has experienced well executed drama. Having ploughed through 6 of the episodes picked from both series 1 and 2 we won't be watching any more. The basic messages are clearly well intentioned but the dialogue is simple and the scenes so repetitive we kept shouting "OK we've got the message".

The characters have little depth and the endings are mostly predictable after about 10 minutes. If this is the kind of drama that wins awards in Australia, then it is no wonder why the rest of the world views that part of the world as lacking culture. (Just as well the Sydney Opera house can counter that.)

The underlying story is generally good but just doesn't justify 50 minute episodes. Now weave several episodes together giving each story maybe 20 minutes air time and there just could be an interesting poignant mini series.

The most ignorant and dumb justice TV show the world has ever seen.

[kolefketkas · 3/10 · 29 August 2017]

I can't even fathom the stupidity of this lame excuse for a TV show. Both characters managed to get raped by the same person in such a short space of time. This alone is such a joke in itself. Not only this but one of the victims fails to give evidence and report the rape. Yes I understand this may be hard to talk about and get out, but come on, for CHRIST'S sake, are you really that plain ignorant and stubborn that you can't help the justice system? To then get angry at how it may potentially failing your relative who also got raped, when you yourself were the sole reason she may let the criminal go.

Then, in the last scenes, when the court case was looking like it might end up with the rapist getting free, the victim who didn't report the crime didn't have the balls to stand up and say something, potentially ruining the whole experience and letting the criminal run free. Utterly pathetic. Not only this, but in the end the rapist is found guilty anyway. Wait, what!? This is the biggest load of crap I have ever seen in the media industry. Fxxx this show and if you really can't man up and report a crime, not only when it first occurs, but later when your relative is trying to put him in prison, ef you. I wish I could rate this TV show lower, what an abysmal piece of crap, utter disgrace not only to the industry but to the aboriginal culture itself.