The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson

In the harsh Australian bush of 1893, Molly Johnson, a woman and her children living in isolation, faces the arrival of a fugitive Indigenous man named Yadaka. As a storm approaches, Molly must confront her own past traumas and the brutal realities of her frontier existence, all while protecting her family and uncovering a dark secret.

The film has been praised for its powerful feminist themes, stunning cinematography of the Australian landscape, and Leah Purcell's commanding performance. It is noted for its raw depiction of hardship and violence on the frontier, offering a significant reinterpretation of Henry Lawson's original story from an Indigenous female perspective.

• Visually striking and thematically rich, offering a potent feminist and Indigenous re-imagining of a classic Australian tale.
• Leah Purcell delivers a compelling performance, anchoring the film with her fierce portrayal of Molly Johnson.
• A brutal yet beautiful exploration of survival, trauma, and resilience on the Australian frontier.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the film's impactful storytelling and the strength of its central character. Many appreciated its unflinching look at historical injustices and its powerful performances, particularly from the lead.

Won Best Film at the 2021 Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival, and nominated for several awards at the 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival including Best Film and Best Actress for Leah Purcell.

The film is an adaptation of Leah Purcell's own stage play, which itself was a response to Henry Lawson's 1892 short story 'The Drover's Wife'.