"Redfern Now: Promise Me" is a TV movie based on the 2012 Australian TV series "Redfern Now" about a community of working class indigenous Australians. The original series ran for two seasons. I only just recently discovered it on Netflix as well as this TV movie.
Two women are raped in separate instances while walking home late at night. Because Robyn decides to remain silent and live in denial about her assault, the rapist is allowed to commit his crime against another woman who also happens to be an acquaintance in her neighborhood. Lorraine, on the other hand, decides to report and prosecute the rapist. Robyn struggles with her guilt over Lorraine's assault.
The main cast is made up of recurring characters from the series, specifically Wayne Blair, Deborah Mailman, Rarriwuy Hick, and Lisa Flanagan. The acting is mostly solid for a TV movie.
The same can't be said for the story. It plays like a Lifetime version of one of those after school specials. For a movie that's supposed to be some type of reward for fans of the series, this is a poor consolation. The original series ran for two seasons and featured many indigenous actors who deserve more attention. But this follow-up only had four or five characters from the series, mostly whose stories were already resolved. Even worse, R:PM is not a particularly deep or complex movie and really only concerns itself with the crime and how the two victims are dealing with it, mainly Robyn. There are no real twists and it's pretty predictable right to the feel good ending. Which is a shame because it could have been so much better.
The series itself was much better and at least the stories were more interesting though just as predictable, despite some great acting. The four principle actors here show up several times among the various episodes and stories, most of which were not connected. It would have been nice to see some of those other actors and characters in this movie. Watch the series if you haven't already. It's much better than this.
Two women are raped in separate instances while walking home late at night. Because Robyn decides to remain silent and live in denial about her assault, the rapist is allowed to commit his crime against another woman who also happens to be an acquaintance in her neighborhood. Lorraine, on the other hand, decides to report and prosecute the rapist. Robyn struggles with her guilt over Lorraine's assault.
The main cast is made up of recurring characters from the series, specifically Wayne Blair, Deborah Mailman, Rarriwuy Hick, and Lisa Flanagan. The acting is mostly solid for a TV movie.
The same can't be said for the story. It plays like a Lifetime version of one of those after school specials. For a movie that's supposed to be some type of reward for fans of the series, this is a poor consolation. The original series ran for two seasons and featured many indigenous actors who deserve more attention. But this follow-up only had four or five characters from the series, mostly whose stories were already resolved. Even worse, R:PM is not a particularly deep or complex movie and really only concerns itself with the crime and how the two victims are dealing with it, mainly Robyn. There are no real twists and it's pretty predictable right to the feel good ending. Which is a shame because it could have been so much better.
The series itself was much better and at least the stories were more interesting though just as predictable, despite some great acting. The four principle actors here show up several times among the various episodes and stories, most of which were not connected. It would have been nice to see some of those other actors and characters in this movie. Watch the series if you haven't already. It's much better than this.
