Paper Giants is about the changing of the guard in Australia. After a long rule under a conservative government, Australia comes out from the dark and into a new era with some assistance from the then radical feminist woman's magazine, CLEO. The unlikely backers of the magazine were the ruthless media giants, the Packer family. They entrust their new baby with the female journalist, Ita Buttrose, who creates a magazine for the sexually suppressed Aussie women.
I was looking forward to seeing the battle of the sexes between Buttrose and Kerry Packer, a Beauty and the Beast fable, but instead was baffled by the side-story of the young female character of Leslie Carpenter. I soon realised that Leslie's journey was that of the magazine CLEO and the women it influenced during that period. Leslie was the symbol of the new Australian woman, who came out of her sheltered life in the suburbs to a new woman of the world thanks to Ita Buttrose and Cleo.
The script writer and director wonderfully captured the transformation of Australia in its most political turmoil period of the early Seventies and the part Cleo played in it. The use of actual footage of Sydney & classic Cleo adds was superb.
The accolades go to the two lead actors in Asher Keddie & Rob Carlton. Even the supporting cast were of a very high standard. I don't think two episodes were enough. I'm sure there would have been enough story to fill a whole 10-part, one hour series as some sections felt like they were rushed.
Hopefully this will be the start of great Aussie drama, in the same style of HBO.
I was looking forward to seeing the battle of the sexes between Buttrose and Kerry Packer, a Beauty and the Beast fable, but instead was baffled by the side-story of the young female character of Leslie Carpenter. I soon realised that Leslie's journey was that of the magazine CLEO and the women it influenced during that period. Leslie was the symbol of the new Australian woman, who came out of her sheltered life in the suburbs to a new woman of the world thanks to Ita Buttrose and Cleo.
The script writer and director wonderfully captured the transformation of Australia in its most political turmoil period of the early Seventies and the part Cleo played in it. The use of actual footage of Sydney & classic Cleo adds was superb.
The accolades go to the two lead actors in Asher Keddie & Rob Carlton. Even the supporting cast were of a very high standard. I don't think two episodes were enough. I'm sure there would have been enough story to fill a whole 10-part, one hour series as some sections felt like they were rushed.
Hopefully this will be the start of great Aussie drama, in the same style of HBO.