The Violent Earth is a 1998 French-Australian co-production miniseries set in New Caledonia from 1888 to 1977. It was broadcast on the Nine Network in Australia.
Plot The series is set in New Caledonia, and follows the Australian-Irish Sutton family and the indigenous Kanaks amidst French colonialism.
Production The series is adapted from the novel Terre violente by Jacqueline Sénès. Production on the series was supposed to begin in 1995, however, it did not begin until 1997. It had a budget of $10 million. The Violent Earth is a co-production between Gaumont and Crawford Productions. It was filmed on-location in Paris, Noumea, Port Douglas and Melbourne. The Violent Earth was broadcast from 17 September 1999 in Australia.
Cast
Karina Lombard : Anna Temaru Claudia Karvan : Jeanne Claire Nebout : Hélène Brittany Byrnes : Young Hélène Laure Killing : Maximilienne Sutton Joe Petruzzi : Vincenzo Scarpinato Arnaud Giovaninetti : Carlo Scarpinato Simone Kessell : Gabrielle Jay Laga'aia : Jean-Christian Andrew McFarlane : Tom Sutton Daniel Daperis : Young Tom Jeremy Callaghan : John Sutton Bernard Verley : Hippocrates Bill Hunter : Campbell Rodney Bell : François Manu Bennett : Wanatcha DuValier Martin Copping : Mr. Best Frank Gallacher : Father Moissan Mark Gerber : Roland Peter McCauley : Theroux Sally McDonald : Jill Andrew McKaige : Gendarme Captain Rosaline Nachero : Clarisse Peter O'Brien : Yann Chevalier Pierre Pudewa : Chief Pore Justine Saunders : Aunt Junie William Takaku : Magnus Bud Tingwell : Bishop Guiart
Reception At the 40th Australian Film Institute Awards, The Violent Earth received nominations for Best Television Mini-Series or Telefeature, Best Achievement in Direction in a Television Drama, and Best Screenplay in a Television Drama.
References
External links The Violent Earth at Crawfords website
The Violent Earth at Australian Television