The Getting of Wisdom

A semi-autobiographical 1910 novel by Henry Handel Richardson (a pseudonym for Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson) inspired director Bruce Beresford's beloved 1978 Australian coming-of-age film centering on a country girl's experiences in a Victorian-era finishing school in Melbourne that caters to sophisticated upper-class students. Skillfully played by newcomer Susannah Fowle, Laura Tweedle Rambotham learns to survive—and even prosper—in the initially hostile environment, developing a close relationship (with an undercurrent of sexual attraction that is handled with delicacy) with a far more beautiful and cultivated classmate named Evelyn (Hilary Ryan). In addition to careful period detail, the film boasts an expert supporting cast, including comedian Barry Humphries, who is surprisingly effective as the all-controlling headmaster, Rev. Strachey. Unfortunately, the transfer does not appear to have undergone serious restoration, and the images are often murky or blurred (plus filming in the inhospitable acoustics of period buildings obviously strained the skill of the sound crew, as much of the dialogue carries an echo that sometimes makes it hard to decipher). Despite the technical deficiencies, however, The Getting of Wisdom is a fine film—an early classic in the Australian New Wave. DVD extras include a “making-of” documentary, a stills gallery, the original press kit, and posters. Recommended. (F. Swietek)