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Laura Tweedle Ramsbotham is about to enter another world. From her home in sleepy, rural Australia she ascends to the dreaming spires of an exclusive college for young ladies, a very strict Victorian boarding school in Melbourne. Laura (Susannah Fowles) is strong willed and rebellious, which creates conflict with her peers and her teachers. In a desperate attempt to find acceptance with her peers, she weaves the most lurid yarns imaginable. The only real soulmate she finds is one of the senior girls. The novel by Henry Handel Richardson was published in 1910, and was so shocking at the time that the author’s name (Ethel Richardson) was stricken from the records of the school in which she set the thinly-disguised autobiography. An amusing and sometimes touching story which features an excellent performance from Barry Humphries as the repressed fire and brimstone minister. Also stars John Waters, Sheila Helpman, Patricia Kennedy and Julie Blake.
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Collection
In ACMI's collection
Previously on display
22 April 2019
ACMI Viewing Booths
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
307073
Language
English
Audience classifications
Mediatheque - all ages (ACMI classified)
PG
Subject categories
Childrens Films → Children 12+
Education, Instruction, Teaching & Schools → Boarding schools
Education, Instruction, Teaching & Schools → Education - Australia
Education, Instruction, Teaching & Schools → Education - History - Victoria
Education, Instruction, Teaching & Schools → Schools - Australia
Education, Instruction, Teaching & Schools → Schools - Victoria
Education, Instruction, Teaching & Schools → Women - Education
Feature films → Feature films - Australia
Literature → Australian literature - Film and video adaptations
Literature → Children's literature - Film and video adaptations
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour