User Reviews

Man, amazing how many of us saw this as kids and still remember it! Now that said, I mostly recall that I was totally hot for Greville (I must have been about 13) and I can't really remember details of the plot or much else except that I loved watching the thing.

I'm another one of those who would love to get this on DVD.

I'm actually going to Australia this Sept but wondering if the DVD will play on my American machine. Funny that I've been there twice before and never thought of this. Someone brought up Dr Who, another PBS import that I loved from that era, which made me get all sentimental about watching Poldark, Duchess of Duke Street and Against the Wind :)

I remember this from my youth as a great series. The story starts in Ireland and moves quickly to Australia. set in 1798 it tells about Mary Mulvane and Jonathan Garrett, both convicts shipped off to the Penal Colony of New South Wales under the oppression of the English Military. Though a love story it mixes in incidents based on history such as the convict uprising at Castle Hill (Sydney). The series was very popular at the time. The 13 episodes were produced in 1978 at Old Sydney Town, N.S.W. and Geelong, Victoria. The soundtrack album by Jon English and Mario Millo is very memorable.

by the way, latest information is that it will come on DVD 3rd Jul 2006. many online DVD stores are already taking orders.

I still remember it after a passage of more than 20 years. I had wondered why I never saw it again - a question that was answered by another person commenting on it. Well, it is really too bad, because it was an enthralling look at the early settlement of Australia. I was particularly amazed at how small a misdeed or misunderstanding could send an Irish man or woman off to Australia. Once in the land down under, the chances for ever returning home were pretty much nil, even after time was served for the offense. People simply made the best of it and worked hard to live in an environment - both physical and social - that was often difficult.

I hope the barriers to a DVD recording are dealt with so that many more people can view this worthwhile mini series, and I can see it again, as well. Memorable characters and a fascinating plot - a good reason to make the effort to put it on DVD.

I saw this series in 1979 when I was 23 and have been looking for it on video for the past 10 years. Have not seen it since and can find no other information on the series except for this website. The music was lovely and I remember the story line was moving. For the memory of a mini-series to last this long, it must have been good.

I first saw Against the Wind when I was 10 and for the last 20 years it has remained my favorite mini series to date. In fact the few times that it has aired since then I have invited several people over to watch it and they too have become as hooked as I. The story is both fascinating and compelling to watch. The acting is fantastic as well as true to the characters. I truly felt as if I was an onlooker in the Garrets life. It also gave me a historical look at life in Australia when it was still basically a penal colony.

The writing and the music also meld well together. Creating a smooth flowing and completely compelling piece of Television art. I can only say that I highly recommend this to anyone.

I saw the series Against the Wind and have always maintained that it was the best mini series ever produced in Australia. The acting was brilliant which enabled the viewer to acquire a real empathy for what it was like for the convicts in our history. The drama and the romance throughout this unique series kept me coming back to the screen for the next part, every night it was screened right up until the last episode. I have often scanned the T.V guide just to see whether it was being screened again. I have had no success searching for an available video or DVD. I would definitely buy this if available. My children have learned about these times in primary school. I would love to share this magnificent mini series with them.

I am happy to realize that so many people share my personal feelings on these miniseries. I cannot add anything to the fine words said about the acting, the score or the story - I just can add another touch to the tapestry of opinions which I believe a few will be able to add.

Living in Bulgaria during the Communist regime certainly had its limitations :-), including not being able to watch most of the TV shows that the whole world grew with. For obvious reasons, Bulgaria's then-one and only state-run TV station did not care to show the working class of the country how did the working class in the US, Europe or Australia live at the time. Occasionally, the censure treated us with some British costume drama or historical miniseries so we could not really make any 'politically incorrect' parallels. Against The Wind was one of those series that kinda passed the censorship and I can remember streets of Bulgaria getting empty when an episode was on air. I was about 10 at the time but I still remember the score being played on the radio in a café and everybody hushing down to hear it. You couldn't buy the soundtrack it in stores then... A friend of mine still keeps a cassette tape with the opening theme recorded from the speaker of his TV set. It even has the Bulgarian voice-over reciting the title of the series and the names of the leading casts. The series had a huge cultural impact on me and many of my friends in Bulgaria at that time and was a measure for every new miniseries coming on Bulgarian TV for years.

It's been a long time since I saw this series which ran on our PBS about 1979. It was the story of an Irish girl, and a boy deported from the British Isles to New South Wales in the 1800s. From what I have been able to learn through additional reading, the mini was fairly accurate. The hardships of the transport, the harshness of the legal system and laws, the difficulty of the convicts as they founded a new world made for real historical TV, far more interesting and enlightening than most of what is on the tube today. I never saw it rerun, and apparently it is not sold on video-probably because of the length, but I certainly would like to see it again, and would likely buy a copy if reasonable and available.

Rarely do I rate anything this highly, but this one cannot be beat! Captivating, intriguing, educational as well. I saw it as a teen, stayed with me thru adulthood, I was lucky enough to score a copy of it from a very generous soul.

In July 2006, this miniseries became available on DVD, but only available for purchase in Australia. You would need a PAL player to view it.

Go to this website for all the information you could ever want on this phenomenal mini-series. You will also find information there on the audio soundtrack: http://web.telia.com/~u22407796/index.htm

I can only echo all the previous comments about "Against the Wind".

I am in the process of putting together a fan-based web page AND chat forum for Against the Wind which will also include some other fantastic Australian Colonial dramas; "Rush", "Cash and Company" and "Tandarra".

I have been researching all 4 shows for some time now and I hope to have something up and running in the next month or so (time permitting).

If anyone has any thoughts on what I should include on the site, please drop me a line.

I am also starting a chat forum for anyone interested in discussing the four shows, their characters, locations etc.

I am of the opinion that series at the time was very entertaining and portrayied how it was in those harsh times,and the Irish accent of the actors was excellant.

One of the best TV mini series ever! I recommend this movie to everyone. If you are reading this and have a copy of Against The Wind, please contact me. I would like to see that movie again.

I first saw this tv-series when I was 6 years old and it still fresh in my memmory. The music and story was fantastic as I remembred it. Now when I'm little older it would be nice to see if my memory is corrct. I'w been asking the Swedish televishion to rerun it but without success, sofar.

Right now I'm just hoping for a DVD release.

Back in 1978 I was fortunately enough to get a chance to see the mini-series "Against the Wind." Not only was I enthralled by this mini-series, but it incredibly educational. It was all about an English penal colony primarily for Irish thieves, many of them petty, and malcontents, and how these convicts became the founders of a new country, Australia.

Over the years I have often looked for it on DVD without luck. I just discovered it that is now available, so I went on Netflix to rent it. Unfortunately, they currently don't carry it, and they told me that the only way they might is if they get enough requests. So, if you've ever seen it and wish to view it again, or if you've never seen it and want to see an incredible historical drama, I hope you will go to Netflix and request it.

I enjoyed Against the Wind. I thought it was an exciting, authentic, historical piece. I liked the characters and the music was great. It made you feel like you were in that time period. I believe it was based on historical facts, which made it even more enjoyable... Plus the scenery was great too!

Fine acting, excellent cinematography, good music and a grand vision of Australian history make this a very enjoyable historical "epic" on the small scale.

Told from the point of view of a small group of English and Irish transportees sent abroad on a "one way ticket" to what was then called "Van Diemmens Land" (Tasmania), most transportees ended up at Botany Bay sweating out their terms of indentured labour, serving a corrupt and arrogant military junta of British serving officers. The common belief that "There's no real need for guards here--there's nowhere a whiteman could run to, and the "savages" will eat you alive..." left the transportee's virtually without hope, and left the junta with defacto "absolute power"

Over the course of the series of episodes, the story unfolds of how, after great suffering and revolt, the colonists eventually get their situation fairly reviewed by British senior military command, and the seeds of civilian administrative government solidly germinated.

At times gritty, at times romantic, the early history of Australian colonization by Europeans is laid bare for all to see. The natural scenery of southern Australia is used to great effect to visually frame the story.>

This series has been completely unavailable on VCR or DVD, and greatly deserves to be re-issued, as it is a fine example of the "Australian Film rennaissance" of the 1970's and early 1980's

I remember watching this with my Mum when it first came out--I was 16 years of age at the time; Mum and I both LOVED it then. It was our favourite! It has stayed with me since--the beautiful, and haunting, music, the wonderful story, the incredible acting. I found myself yearning, and searching, wondering if I would ever be able to see this miniseries again, and also wondering that if I did get the chance to watch it again, would it still be as lovely as I remember it? Would it stand the test of time or would it be dated? A friend who knew I loved Against the Wind so, was kind enough to gift me with a copy of it recently. Though the video is not the best quality, the brilliance and beauty are still there. I am VERY pleased to say that Against the Wind is everything I remember it to be and so very much more even. Still my all time favourite miniseries. Pure magic! Holds up very well with time--all of it: the dialogue, the exceptional acting, the lovely music, the moving and touching story, the scenery. Everything. VERY HIGHLY recommend Against the Wind!

Back in 1979 i saw this mini-series on the TV. It was wonderful. I have been trying for years to find out how i can see it again. Can anyone advise me. We saw this just before going to Australia with our children and it really helped them to appreciate the early settlement of Australia. We were also able to visit the theme at Old Sydney Town which is just a little north of Sydney, Australia.

I did a Google search to find out if there was any hope of Against the Wind ever coming out on DVD. I found a letter from the director that gave the following information. Because this was one of the first mini-series on Australian television and well before the invention of the DVD, no contractual arrangements were made for any other format production. To bring it out on DVD, they would have to go back and contract with every person associated with the production. This is never going to happen so unless it is re-run on television, we'll never see it again. Now, if anyone has any ideas on who owns the copyright to the mini-series, perhaps fans could petition them to run it again on television. I wonder, though, if there is even an intact copy of the series in existence.

Against the wind is a moving and well acted series, that depicts both the strengths and weakness of the human spirit.The plot is well constructed and keeps you riveted. The photography is excellent as is the musical score. In short this is one of the best works I have had the privilege of viewing.I viewed Against the Wind in the late 70's on US television and would love to see it again.

I saw this mini-series in the late 70's and fell in love with the characters and story, which told the tale of English and Irish convicts transported to early Australia. It was extremely romantic and had plenty of adventure for non-romos. If it were available on video, I'd buy it. It is a really g ood story.

I just love this series, the music, the actors and the plot. You got to love it. Jon English makeup around the eyes, that dark and mysterious look that is given to him. And that he loves her no matter what. And she is so beautiful and it is so sad she has to leave her home but she finds him and true love begins.

FINALLY it is out on DVD - all 13 episodes in a 4 DVD set at a reasonable price too. The storyline is as good as I remember. I am so glad that someone actually listened to many, many requests for this to be relaunched as a DVD!! What I cannot understand is why it has never appeared on the TV since it was run the first time. It is great to see some well known names from early in their acting careers. It is hard to believe that this series is almost 30 years old. The acting is superb and the story is timeless. Jon English has done a fantastic job with his music and his acting is excellent. I would love to see some of the other great Australian series, such as Rush, be reproduced on DVD like Against the Wind.

First I'll apologize for my poor English. I hope you can understand my writing anyway. :-)

I would love to buy this series "Against the wind". I totally fell in love wide the story about how Irish and English convicts were shipped of to Australia to work in slave like condition for rich English immigrants, and not to forget the tittle song Six Ribbons song by Jon English who plays the lead role Jonathan Garrett. I really hope that the series will be available on DVD soon. I'll be the first in line to buy it for sure. So if any of you know where to get hold of this, please tell.

I remember seeing all episodes of the series; however, so many years have passed since I watched it. I couldn't remember the name but I do remember it being a fascinating account of convict labor sent to Australia from England. One of the convicts stole a loaf of bread in England, was caught, tried and found guilty. He was banished to Australia and all prisoners were treated like slaves, spending a good deal of their journey to South Wales in the hold of the ship.

I too would love to see the series again. It was superb! The acting was excellent and the young lady was a thing of beauty. Colonial Australia was very harsh on convicts. They were forced into making bricks for buildings, building roads etc. In short, they were given way to much punishment to fit the crime.