The Winds Of Jarrah

Anyone who missed the opening credits of this period drama might wonder at its lushly romantic style, unusual in the annals of Australian film with its characteristic pragmatism in such matters. What they would have missed is that it was based on a Mills & Boon novel, 'The House In The Timberwoods' by Australian writer, Joyce Dingwall. Set in a post-war timber-mill in Northern NSW, it tells the story of a young Englishwoman (Susan Lyons) who arrives in Australia at the end of WWII to look after the children of a cynical mill-owner and man's man, played by Terence Donovan.

Although scripted by well-credentialled writers Bob Ellis and Anne Brookbank, the longer the film lasts the more one's fears are realized as 19th century English Romanticism derails typically Australian cinematic naturalism until the film starts to look and sound like Austenesque melodrama. Despite  the overall high quality of the production including fine photography by Geoff Burton, spot-on production design by Graham 'Grace' Walker" and matching costume design by David Rowe along with solid performances by the cast nothing can overcome the stereotypical plot and characters.which together with the ripe score by John Stuart undermine the film's greatest strength, its realism.

Financed by the Film Corporation of Western Australia, where it was originally intended to be shot, it was, understandably, a box office failure.

 

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