Movie – “Ladies in Black”

Sydney, Australia 1959.

“Ladies in Black” is a movie with its own charm.

Hello Friends,

I liked watching the “Ladies in Black” movie for its women’s stories, vintage fashion and the dive into history. I’m not intending to write too many spoilers in this post. The movie did make me think a lot as you can probably tell by this long article. “Ladies in Black” is a quality production and a companion for another great, vintage-themed Australian movie, “The Dressmaker”. You can read the "The Dressmaker" posts here 

the shop ladies dressed in black clothes
Patty (Alison McGirr), Leslie (Angouric Rice) & Fay (Rachael Taylor)
source; http://www.abc.net.au/

Coming of Age

The movie begins when a likable young woman, Leslie (Angourie Rice), has finished high school and goes to work at the women’s section of a Sydney Department Store. The uniform for the shop clerks is black.

Leslie has weeks to wait to find out whether her school results are good enough for her to be accepted to study at Sydney University.

The story shows Leslie growing up in the company of the older shop clerks. She changes her name to the more feminine, Lisa. Having worked around the sophisticated gowns at Goode’s she’s not so keen on the fancy dress her mother sews for her. A pale pink, innocent dress with a peter-pan collar and a large ruffle hem.

Initially, her father doesn’t understand, appreciate or support her ambition to go to University. She is a girl and what relevance has university got for her. She’s only going to get married and have kids in the future.

The continental people she socializes with, change her views, and open her eyes to a richer culture, and a happier life.

Lisa’s coming of age story is mostly gentle and sweet with no nasty surprises. Thank goodness! I was cheering for Lisa to overcome her obstacles. Angourie Rice made Lisa a believable character and she is a wonderful young actress.

showgirls from a club in Sydney
source; https://www.imdb.com/

Circular Stories

The movie does not have a straight line progression of plot with a dramatic climax and resolution. The movie showcases a different type of story-telling. It’s a series of stories within circles. Each circle tells of a woman’s relationships with herself, the other woman and men in her life. The story circles intersect or overlap at the women’s workplace, a department store called ‘Goode’s’ which is located in the middle of Sydney.

Fay (Rachael Taylor), looking for love with a romantic man
source; https://www.theguardian.com/

Fay’s Romance

Shop clerk, Fay (Rachael Taylor) is disillusioned with romance with Australian men. Magda (Julia Ormond), the Slovenian fashionista refugee plays match-maker and introduces Fay to a passionate Hungarian man, Rudi (Ryan Corr) who is going to make his fortune in Australia, the land of opportunity.

There was a scene between Fay and Rudi that really touched my heart. The scene was filmed at maybe the Blue Mountains (beautiful), inland from Sydney. Fay was confessing very personal information to Rudi. Rachel Taylor’s acting in the scene was superb. Some of the best acting I’ve seen, ever.

this scene between Fay (Rachael Taylor) & Rudi (Ryan Corr) was special
source; http://www.abc.net.au/

Racism of the 1950’s

Some European people fled the Second World War and came to Australia to start a new life. Initially, the war refugees were housed in migrant camps, and later integrated into society. The movie portrays the Australians as thinking the Europeans/Continentals were a strange mob they didn’t understand. They were lesser, desperate people somehow.

The Hungarians war refugees in the movie regarded themselves as having cultured tastes in food, wine, books and music. Whereas they thought the Australians were descended from convicts, the lowest class of people in Britain.

The racism themes in the movie were best highlighted with food and fashion. The Australian sandwich for lunch versus the salami, olives, fetta cheese and antipasto dishes of the Europeans. Drinking Australian beer versus glasses of imported wines. Magda (Julia Ormond) was in charge of the ‘Models’ section of women’s clothing in the Department store. The cocktail gowns on display were elite, exclusive, expensive, and only came in one size, model size. She sold the dresses with European fashion flair, chic and her exotic accent. The other ladies worked in the women’s clothing and accessories section of the store gazed at her from their counters, watching Magda's behavior in puzzlement.

I loved the character of Magda, with her womanly, sensual, fashionista flair. Julia Ormond’s acting was a pleasure to watch.

Magda (Julia Ormond) in the 'Models' section of the department store
source; https://www.theguardian.com/

The Blurb

(from www.ladiesinblackmovie.com.au)

Set in the summer of 1959, when the impact of European migration and the rise of women’s liberation is about to change Australia forever, a shy schoolgirl (Lisa) takes a summer job at the prestigious Sydney department store, Goode’s. There she meets the 'ladies in black', who will change her life forever. Beguiled and influenced by Magda, the vivacious manager of the high-fashion floor, and befriended by fellow sales ladies Patty and Fay, Lisa is awakened to a world of possibilities. As Lisa grows from a bookish schoolgirl to a glamorous and positive young woman, she herself becomes a catalyst for a cultural change in everyone’s lives.

Watch the movie trailer.

Have a happy weekend.

♥ Ashlyn