My Brilliant Career (1979)

In the rustic charm of the Australian outback in 1897, we find the spirited Sybylla Melvyn, a young woman teetering on the brink of adulthood. Despite the humble farming background and modest means of her parents, Sybylla harbors grand dreams; she envisions a brilliant, creative-focused career that her rural life seems to contradict. With an independent streak that defies the conventional expectations of her time, she firmly believes that her aspirations are irreconcilable with the institution of marriage, a step her elders insist is the next logical progression in her life. When her mother decides to send her to live with her affluent maternal grandmother, Sybylla welcomes the chance to escape the likelihood of becoming a servant. The move is seen as an opportunity for her to learn the ways of a refined young woman, capable of enticing a suitable husband. Yet, her Aunt Helen's advice to choose a man of prospects over one of passion only fuels her resistance. This resistance is tested when Sybylla finds herself entwined in a web of romantic interests. There's Frank Hawdon, an awkward yet wealthy jackaroo she barely tolerates, and Harry Beecham, a handsome, affluent landowner who has been an acquaintance since childhood. Harry, who could have any woman he desires, seems drawn to Sybylla's fiery spirit. Yet, despite the mutual attraction, Sybylla remains uncertain if marriage has any place in her immediate future. As Sybylla navigates the complexities of young womanhood, love, and societal expectations, she may find that some decisions are out of her hands. Will she be able to carve out her own path or will she be swept along by the current of her circumstances? "My Brilliant Career" is a captivating exploration of one woman's struggle to balance her dreams and the expectations of those around her in a world where the two seldom align.

My Brilliant Career is a drama movie featuring Judy Davis.

My Brilliant Career is currently streaming on Criterion Channel, DIRECTV and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy My Brilliant Career on Apple TV.