My Brilliant Career

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My Brilliant Career

G

1980

1h 41m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

86%

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22 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Growing up in the Australian outback, creative and headstrong Sybylla Melvyn (Judy Davis) dreams of becoming a famous writer despite long odds and the objections of her family. Forced by money problems to move in with her rich grandmother (Aileen Britton), she soon makes the acquaintance of a handsome landowner, Harry (Sam Neill), and wins him over despite their class differences. When Harry proposes, Sybylla must choose between romantic love and the brilliant career she craves.

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Michael Blowen

Boston Globe

Apr 28, 2018

It's hard to imagine a film filled with more quiet integrity, intelligent passion, realistic drama and genuine entertainment than Gillian Armstrong's My Brilliant Career.

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John Skow

TIME Magazine

Sep 9, 2014

This is a modest, clear sighted film, and it profits considerably from a lack of the bravura landscape photography that most directors would have used to puff up a movie set in Australia.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Jul 25, 2008

This Australian film is a charming look at 19th-century rural days in general and the stirrings of self-realization and feminine liberation in the persona of a headstrong young girl who wants to go her own way.

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

Jul 25, 2026

It’s funny that Armstrong’s one big Hollywood hit was her 1994 adaptation of Little Women, because she’d already made one where Jo doesn’t have to marry Mr. Baher.

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Michael Bronski

Gay Community News (Boston)

Aug 24, 2022

My Brilliant Career is a wonderful movie that details the life of a young woman growing up in turn of the century Australia.

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Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

Jul 13, 2020

4/5

A story of one woman, two suitors, and a passion for the pen.

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J R

@joannaregina Aug 28, 2026

Davis too old for the part and is a one/note actress who is just sullen as she flounces about

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Starr P

@Twinkle26 Aug 18, 2026

I loved Judy Davis in the original movie. While I enjoyed the ensemble, the lead character Sybilla it seemed had one facial expression all the way through.

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Mickey B

@Mickerdoo Jul 28, 2026

I can get behind an independent woman. The pomp of the era bores and irritates me, though. Harry certainly fumbles, but Neill is great.

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Alain E

@AlainE Nov 24, 2025

Modestly titled by the author whose real name is Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin , the book was actually published in 1901 and has entered the canon in Australia. The title proved to be quite ironic as the book represents the high point of Ms Franklin’s literary career. She traveled extensively working under various capacities, at one point as a cook in a military hospital in Greek Macedonia in 1917-1918 under war conditions! She never married. The film is very sweet and without sentimentality illustrates the beginning of life of an intelligent girl in rural Australia, who however has decided that she will become a writer. Good acting and good cinematography.

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CodyZamboni Z

@CodyZamboni Nov 29, 2024

Compelling story of writer Sybylla Melvyn, of her early life , She's a fascinating, fun character, spirited, full of life, She's morose that life doesn't turn out the way she wants , Great peformance by Judy Davis, Nice seeing young Sam Neill, I liked the beautiful photograpy of Australian landscapes, the rich homes, contrasted with the hovels Sybylla is forced to live in.

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Brett C

@Harvey658 May 17, 2022

I first saw this on it's initial release responding to it in that it was me. It was and still is. Simply marvelous. Though have never believed in Mr Neilllll as an actor unless twisting one's neck and looking sideways is as such.

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Gillian Armstrong

Director

Judy Davis

Sybylla Melvyn

Sam Neill

Harry Beecham

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Synopsis

Growing up in the Australian outback, creative and headstrong Sybylla Melvyn (Judy Davis) dreams of becoming a famous writer despite long odds and the objections of her family. Forced by money problems to move in with her rich grandmother (Aileen Britton), she soon makes the acquaintance of a handsome landowner, Harry (Sam Neill), and wins him over despite their class differences. When Harry proposes, Sybylla must choose between romantic love and the brilliant career she craves.

Director: Gillian Armstrong
Producer: Margaret Fink
Distributor: Analysis Film Releasing Corporation
Production Co: Greater Union Organisation (GUO)
Rating: G
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 1, 1980, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2019
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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