The movie is based upon the 1901 self-published novel by Australian writer Miles Franklin. It tells the story of a freedom-loving woman who eschews the traditions of the past by forgoing marriage for a career. Sybylla Melvyn (Judy Davis) lives a dreary existence with her impoverished farming family in rural Possum Gully in New South Wales, Australia in 1897.
As Sybylla's mother (Julia Blake) can no longer support her, she finds for her daughter a position as a general servant. "Servant?" exclaims the spirited Sybylla, rejecting the idea. Later that evening the mother complains to the father (Alan Hopgood), "Useless, plain, and Godless." Sybylla tells her attractive sister Gertie (Marion Shad) about her hopes and dreams of being an accomplished writer. So it comes as a relief for Sybylla when her well-to-do Grandmother Bossier (Aileen Broton) agrees to take her in at more comfortable Caddagat. Aunt Helen (Wendy Hughes) becomes Sybylla's temporary confidante. Helped by the servant Ethel, beauty treatments give plain-looking Sybylla some confidence. But like her parents, Sybylla's grandma and aunt expect her to follow matrimonial tradition. While recovering from a cold, Sybylla tells them that she wants a career in literature or art or music, and has no intention of marriage. One day while blossom-picking, she meets charming bachelor Harry Beecham (Sam Neill).
Over time Sybylla rejects several proposals, including those of Harry. Her grandmother advises her that marriage for love is less important than marriage for money. Furthermore, says the grandma, a woman receives "respectability" upon matrimony. At a lively shindig at Five Bob Downs Sybylla does take exception to the attraction that other young ladies have for Harry. After the ball, Aunt Gussie tells Sybylla that "Loneliness is a terrible price to pay for independence." Of course, Sybylla remembers that her own mother had married for love and ended up in a tedious existence. And Sybylla has no liking for arranged marriages. Meanwhile Sybylla's dad has gotten further into financial difficulty with a chap named McSwatt. Grandma tells Sybylla that she would be accepted as governess to McSwatt's children to pay the interest on the 500 pounds that dad owes. The McSwatt kids are dirty-faced and boisterous, but Sybylla shows patience, and is not afraid to use the rod. Her job eventually ended – actually cut short – she returns home to Possum Gully.
After regaining some of his family's monetary losses, Harry Beecham shows up and again proposes marriage. The intractable Sybylla again delays matters even though Harry seems to be a good match, a man who will not squelch her strong-willed nature. In the last scene, Sybylla mails a large manuscript to Blackwoods Publishers of Edinburgh, Scotland. The closing caption reads "'My Brilliant Career' was published in 1901."
Directed by a woman, Gillian Armstrong, the movie is well-filmed among the natural countryside of meadows, lakes, and hillsides of New South Wales. It presents appropriate period costumes and hair styles that evoke well the dawn of the twentieth century.
As Sybylla's mother (Julia Blake) can no longer support her, she finds for her daughter a position as a general servant. "Servant?" exclaims the spirited Sybylla, rejecting the idea. Later that evening the mother complains to the father (Alan Hopgood), "Useless, plain, and Godless." Sybylla tells her attractive sister Gertie (Marion Shad) about her hopes and dreams of being an accomplished writer. So it comes as a relief for Sybylla when her well-to-do Grandmother Bossier (Aileen Broton) agrees to take her in at more comfortable Caddagat. Aunt Helen (Wendy Hughes) becomes Sybylla's temporary confidante. Helped by the servant Ethel, beauty treatments give plain-looking Sybylla some confidence. But like her parents, Sybylla's grandma and aunt expect her to follow matrimonial tradition. While recovering from a cold, Sybylla tells them that she wants a career in literature or art or music, and has no intention of marriage. One day while blossom-picking, she meets charming bachelor Harry Beecham (Sam Neill).
Over time Sybylla rejects several proposals, including those of Harry. Her grandmother advises her that marriage for love is less important than marriage for money. Furthermore, says the grandma, a woman receives "respectability" upon matrimony. At a lively shindig at Five Bob Downs Sybylla does take exception to the attraction that other young ladies have for Harry. After the ball, Aunt Gussie tells Sybylla that "Loneliness is a terrible price to pay for independence." Of course, Sybylla remembers that her own mother had married for love and ended up in a tedious existence. And Sybylla has no liking for arranged marriages. Meanwhile Sybylla's dad has gotten further into financial difficulty with a chap named McSwatt. Grandma tells Sybylla that she would be accepted as governess to McSwatt's children to pay the interest on the 500 pounds that dad owes. The McSwatt kids are dirty-faced and boisterous, but Sybylla shows patience, and is not afraid to use the rod. Her job eventually ended – actually cut short – she returns home to Possum Gully.
After regaining some of his family's monetary losses, Harry Beecham shows up and again proposes marriage. The intractable Sybylla again delays matters even though Harry seems to be a good match, a man who will not squelch her strong-willed nature. In the last scene, Sybylla mails a large manuscript to Blackwoods Publishers of Edinburgh, Scotland. The closing caption reads "'My Brilliant Career' was published in 1901."
Directed by a woman, Gillian Armstrong, the movie is well-filmed among the natural countryside of meadows, lakes, and hillsides of New South Wales. It presents appropriate period costumes and hair styles that evoke well the dawn of the twentieth century.