As a person, who sent many years working in the Australian sheep industry, and some of them as a stock inspector, all that I can say is that everything in this movie about sheep farming and management of Ovine Johnes Disease is ridiculous. The over the top response to OJD was better suited to something airborne and highly infectious, like Foot and Mouth Disease. I understand that they had to pick something and BSE (or mad cow disease) that appears in the Icelandic original is not something that has ever occurred in Australia and doesn't fit the bill.
The farms are too small, the flocks are too small (for Australia), the brothers are each too poor to not have jobs off farm, the "breed" of sheep is made up, the inspector shows up in a suit and tie and seems to not understand anything about farming (apparently) and has a really flash 4WD ute! (Where did the cash strapped Department get the funding for that?) The sheep stand quietly while being variously grabbed by random people. None of this is realistic.
I gave it 4 stars because the underlying story of two brothers and their fractious relationship was worth watching. And I didn't walk out in disgust. I especially enjoyed the scene where Col drives Les to the hospital (I'll allow the lack of realism to slide for that one).
I will appeal to the Arts community to stop producing nonsense about farming, please? Just for once, can we get some well researched work that doesn't misrepresent our people and culture? Thanking you in advance.
The farms are too small, the flocks are too small (for Australia), the brothers are each too poor to not have jobs off farm, the "breed" of sheep is made up, the inspector shows up in a suit and tie and seems to not understand anything about farming (apparently) and has a really flash 4WD ute! (Where did the cash strapped Department get the funding for that?) The sheep stand quietly while being variously grabbed by random people. None of this is realistic.
I gave it 4 stars because the underlying story of two brothers and their fractious relationship was worth watching. And I didn't walk out in disgust. I especially enjoyed the scene where Col drives Les to the hospital (I'll allow the lack of realism to slide for that one).
I will appeal to the Arts community to stop producing nonsense about farming, please? Just for once, can we get some well researched work that doesn't misrepresent our people and culture? Thanking you in advance.