Ladies in Black

Movie Review #9254 LADIES IN BLACK.

Set in 1959 Sydney, delightful coming of age story told around the experiences of young, bright high school graduate Lisa, who lands a temporary job in the women’s department of a large department store.

She’s pretty naïve but soon learns the ropes from the store’s seasoned campaigners and some of their stories too are interwoven nicely into the proceedings. Its light-hearted as the characters are explored and their pasts and future expectations examined with slight commentaries of prejudice, sex, immigration and relationships dealt with in a compassionate manner without resorting to self-pity or activism.

Also a fabulous portrayal of that era Sydney complete with trams, old cars, fashions, music and the general sense of conservatism being disrupted by some pretty forward continentals. I’m sure the cast is well known in Australian film circles but none of them registered with me, all however were more than adequate with Julia Ormond doing a nice turn as a European matchmaking matriarch who takes Lisa under wing and teaches her the rules.

So yes, it’s another chick flick but this bloke thoroughly enjoyed it, despite its anti-thriller disposition.

7.5:10.