TBT: My Brilliant Career (1979)

My Brilliant Career (1979), the adaptation of the 1901 autobiography by Australian writer Miles Franklin, isn’t a showy movie. The script and pacing are naturalistic, as are the costumes, which span VERY rural/workaday to nice/upper middle class but not showy. Nonetheless, the film is one of my absolute favorites, because it so perfectly captures the struggle women face when trying to choose an independent life of the mind — plus it has well done, historically accurate costumes and a sweet love story.

(Stella) Miles Franklin (1879-1954) grew up in rural Australia. A precocious child, she wrote this semi-autobiographical novel while still a teenager. It was published in 1901 and was a huge hit (which caused its own complications in Franklin’s life).

The story focuses on Sybylla, a headstrong, intelligent young woman growing up in rural Australia during one of their worst droughts. Her family is struggling, which isn’t helped by Sybylla’s determination to be a writer; Sybylla, of course, feels misunderstood and like her nascent genius is being wasted. Her mother becomes so frustrated that she sends Sybylla to stay with her well-to-do grandmother, where she meets wealthy neighbor Harold and things get complicated. As I wrote in my Top 5 Historical Costume Movies for Book Lovers, Sybylla “faces the ultimate choice: love or an independent life of the mind? … Have tissues ready, not because it’s tragic, but because it will resonate so deeply.”

The film was directed by legendary director Gillian Armstrong (Little Women, Oscar and Lucinda) and stars Judy Davis (this was her breakout role – she’s SO YOUNG! in this) and Sam Neill. Credit for the costume design was given to Anna Senior, who was nominated for an Oscar for her work on this film… but according to an interview with director Gillian Armstrong, it was actually production designer Luciana Arrighi who designed the costumes:

“Anna was her head of wardrobe. When we made that little film, which we never thought would actually get out of Australia, Luciana who was also the production designer. She thought that Anna had done such a wonderful job as her right hand person, so she gave her the title of costume designer, and then lo and behold, it was nominated for an Oscar. My producer and I rang the Academy and said that Luciana did the costumes and not Anna, and we got her original drawings and everything, and they said, ‘I’m sorry, we go by the credits on the screen.’ Luci did of course win that Oscar for Howards End for production design” (Gillian Armstrong: “Film is not a level playing field for women”).

While crediting Arrighi’s “artistic direction,” Senior shared various reminiscences for a book called, “Performance Costume: New Perspectives and Methods.” The project was

“demanding… given the tight six-week shooting schedule, constant moving between locations and budget constraints. Costumes were worked out as shooting progressed. Senior recalls that the team literally finished the last frock on the last day of the shoot. Wherever they moved to film, it was a matter of setting up a work room, a dye room and a wardrobe department in a hired hall.”

The film starts off (and periodically goes back to) rural poverty:

But hold on, because Sybylla goes to live with grandma, where her aunt takes her under her wing and guides her in dressing well (among other things):

According to Performance Costume,

“The early twentieth-century costumes were created using period garments and elements of 1900s clothing and accessories. The striking red parasol used by Sybylla in the boating scene was an antique possession of Senior’s. Sun damage has resulted in the fabric perishing along the spokes and the frayed fabric was replaced by Senior with strips of antique black lace, thus creating a prop that is more visually effective than the original item. The parasol signals Sybylla’s transition from tomboy to lady – a process which is only partially effective, as she cannot repress her instincts sufficiently…

“As there was only one version of the cream outfit (on productions with larger budgets there are multiple versions of key costumes prepared), it had to be whipped off after each take and carefully dried in readiness for the next attempt. Miraculously, the treasured red parasol never fell out of the boat.

“What might appear to be a one-piece gown in the film is in fact, a cream coloured long-sleeved blouse with lace around the shoulders, neck and wrists with a matching cream full-length skirt. Close observation reveals a rip (repaired) on the hem that occurred during filming.”

Sybylla’s Aunt Helen also has a GREAT wardrobe:

And lest you be concerned that there isn’t enough eye candy, Sam Neill is the love interest, and he is SO CHARMING:

Is My Brilliant Career flashy or showy? Nope. But it’s a truly beautiful, heartbreaking, and inspiring story with stunning performances. So the next time you’re ready for something subtle, put this one on. You won’t regret it.

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