This made for Australian TV miniseries provides a horrifying look at the conditions many of Britain's poor and prisoners had to endure. I wish more time had been spent on their incredible voyage in a small open boat from the Australian penal colony on Botany Bay to Dutch- controlled Timor, several thousand miles away. How did they avoid being wrecked on The Great Barrier Reef? Seems like most of the time, they were on the verge of starvation. Mary was starving in her native Cornwall, because the fish her father usually caught didn't show up for at least 2 years in a row, so she stole to eat. She starved in prison and on the prison ship to Australia. She starved in the penal colony because the crops failed for several years in a row. She mostly starved on the voyage to Timor and, I'm sure on the return trip to England. About the only time she wasn't starving is when Lt. Clarke was subsidizing her, and during her stay in Timor, when the elite inexplicably lavished food, drink and clothes on the escapees, whom they thought were victims of a sunken ship. Yet, she and her children didn't appear to be any the worse for starvation, we must recognize. A number of fictional details are included. Most of them relate to the fictional character Lt. Clarke. Although there was a Lt. Clark on the voyage, his relationship with Mary is fictional. Some reviewers think that this character should not have been introduced, unnecessarily complicating things. I believe he was a useful character in most of Part 1 of the film as seen on my DVD, until the escapees make off with Governor Phillips cutter. He helps to explain how Mary and her children escaped starvation at times, and how they obtained the key to the stores house. He also provides a romantic dalliance for Mary . After that, his relationship with the escapees is largely implausible or distorts history. Supposedly, he leads some soldiers in a chase after the stolen cutter, along the shore. But, apparently he has no horses to speed his passage through territory perhaps unexplored and populated by hostile natives. To walk on the beaches invited heat exhaustion in their full soldier regalia. It's implausible that he could have caught up with the escapees, as dramatized. Later, when Clarke takes a ship back to England, the ship makes (an implausible?) stop at Dutch Timor. Clarke hoped to discover whether the escapees made it to Timor and, if so, hoped to recapture them for trial in England. However, as several reviewers have pointed out, Dutch authorities wouldn't likely grand him the favor of allowing some redcoats to go exploring in the bush for Mary. Rather, if the English had informed the Dutch of their true nature, the Dutch authorities might then have arranged for their departure in custody westward. Also, while on Timor, according to the film, the red coats assassinated Mary's husband, Will, who actually died of 'fever'(likely Malaria or Dengue) on the voyage to England. Clarke had a golden opportunity to kill Mary in private, but held back.Although the depiction of men and women inmates being housed together in large rooms at Newgate Prison in correct, the sexes were separated on different ships on the voyage. However, the women could and often did form clandestine relationships with the crew and guards.I watched the R version of the film, which is divided into Parts 1 and II. This version includes several scenes of simulated sexual intercourse and the 'rape fest' scene in the open at the colony, as well as a flogging of a woman, and a hanging.It would have been nice to finish with Mary reuniting with her family(if they still existed), instead of walking through a meadow toward Cornwall. Perhaps it was left as such in anticipation of another sequel? Apparently, nothing is known of her, after the trial, so this would have involved inventing a completely fictional story.On the whole, the film accomplishes its purpose of portraying the horrible conditions of the poor and imprisoned, and some of the difficulties involved in establishing the first British settlement on Australia. As several have noted, less time spent in facial close ups would have been beneficial. Romola Garai was good in her role as Mary, eliciting both sympathy for her plight, and revulsion at some of her methods to try to avoid starvation for her and her children.My review title comes from a comment by Governor Phillips about the escapees, and their chance of surviving their perilous journey.

I haven't seen this mini series yet but from what I have seen on the trailers shown on UK TV it looks great. I do not like however that the Australians seem to think that the mini series was totally done by them, the UK network did some of it as well so the UK should be mentioned. it may of been made in Australia but it has good British cast. and is well made. so if any Australians are out there please remember that the British had a hand in making the production as well as Australia it makes me mad that a mini series that is done outside of the UK is not mentioned and only the country that it is being made is mentioned. but I think the British will love this mini series as well as the Australian's did.

Mary Bryant was a simply brilliant portrayal of a young woman's strength, vitality, courage and determination. The story encapsulated her desires for love and lust in a new world of discoveries and unforgiving hardships. From a historical perspective I felt I was there, a truly realistic picture of English on foreign soil, bringing their flag of imperialism progressivist ideals, and ethnocentricities. Going back in time the story revealed the capacities of the unrelentless human spirit, pushing the boundaries in both mind and body. Being a young woman myself the character of Mary Bryant truly inspired me, as I thought I have endured hardships. This realistic account of a woman's tale lived 200 years ago discloses how spoilt our lifestyle has become. I am a patriotic Australian and very proud of the blood sweat and tears of our forefathers that made this country. I have placed the movie in my top three movies of all time. The script and the actors were fantastic.

Mary Bryant was a remarkable person and this mini-series starred remarkable actors who held together a wonderfully moving recollection of a dark time in the history of Brittan and the beginnings of Australia. It frightens me that my country was essentially founded with such atrocities and in such inhumane ways. I knew of the injustices that would later come about with more force for the Aboriginal people, but scarcely thought of the convicts that were dumped there. I had never really looked at the first fleet the way I did when watching the series, it opened my eyes and those of all of us who've seen it, that I'm sure. All in all there were top film making and superb character portrayals in a very important story to remember of the right of each human being to live and to have redemption from there (often petty) mistakes. I will be listening up for Alex O'Lachlan's name in the future and am sure to follow Romola's acting career with deep interest.