Netflix Party Review: Ladies In Black [Emz]

 

So this film was Zee's pick for last Saturday's Netflix party.

I apologize for the late upload, it was my birthday last week so I decided to milk it and celebrate throughout the week. I mean you only turn 30 once right?

Anyway onto the review.  I had never heard of this film before but was certainly curious when Zee picked it. It is based around the 1993 novel The Women in Black.

Here is the synopsis:

In the summer of 1959, Lisa, a shy schoolgirl, takes a job in Sydney's prestigious department store Goode's. There, her life is changed forever when she meets the "ladies in black."

I  found this film to have many sweet moments but many other moments that really showed the year that film was set.

So this film was set in Australia, with a mainly Australian cast. 

The found the naivety of the main character quite charming. as shes sees things a different way to the other staff members. 

I didn't enjoy the racism towards the immigrants that had made a life for themselves in Australia, but one you have to think back to the year the film is set and also a mixture of ignorance and unwillingness to embrace change.

Lisa's parents fall under the umbrella of unwillingness to embrace change as we learn that her name is actually Leslie but she hates her name. Her dad takes the entire film to embrace that his daughter is very intelligent and wants to go to University as he never went himself and feels he is fine. Her mother seemingly doesn't want her daughter to grow up and has trouble letting her find her style in fashion.

I find Lisa's friendship with Magda to be really lovely and how she embraces the fact that she is an immigrant from Slovenia and actually knows where Slovenia is and the capital city, which impresses Magda.

I find the character of Fay (Rachael Taylor - Jessica Jones) to be a little naive as well, I find that she takes on other people's opinions as her own without making up her own mind.

Patty has her own issues beyond the store with her husband, confusion and mixed emotions ensue between them as the story progresses.

Overall I found this to be a lovely story for the period it was set and it opens your eyes to how things must have been in the late '50s.

I would recommend this film and I give it a 9/10.

Next up will be Zee's review with my pick for this weekend.

Till next time

Emz x