The Legend of Molly Johnson

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1:37

The Legend of Molly Johnson

2022

1h 49m

Drama

Western

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

62 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

In 1893 on an isolated property, a heavily pregnant woman named Molly Johnson (Leah Purcell) and her children struggle to survive the harsh Australian landscape; her husband is gone, droving sheep in the high country. Molly then finds herself confronted by a shackled Aboriginal fugitive named Yadaka (Rob Collins). As an unlikely bond begins to form between them, secrets unravel about her true identity. Meanwhile, realizing Molly's husband is missing, new town lawman Nate Clintoff becomes suspicious and sends his constable to investigate. The deadly encounter between Molly, Yadaka and the constable results in a tragic chain of events with Molly becoming a symbol of feminism and anti-racism.

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Critics Consensus

The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson occasionally struggles to cohere, but writer-director-star Leah Purcell offers a unique, compelling perspective on historic myths.

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Nell Minow

RogerEbert.com

Purcell has taken Lawson’s character and given her a name, a history, and a story worthy of the word 'legend.'

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

Purcell [gives] a heartrending lead performance, playing a woman whose iron will may not be able to withstand the mob’s prejudices.

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

Teo Bugbee

New York Times

It’s an earnest film, one that glows with pride at Aboriginal resilience. But the impression it leaves is didactic, a saints and demons fable that meanders to foregone conclusions.

Aug 18, 2022

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Erica Richards

InSession Film

A sad and desolate story that will leave you with no desire to ever revisit it...

Rated: C

Jul 8, 2024

Full Review

Loren King

Newport This Week (RI)

Australian writer, director and actress Leah Purcell not only creates a powerful, original character for herself to play in The Legend of Molly Johnson, but she gives the durable, male-centered western genre a feminist slant.

Sep 30, 2022

Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

An intense Western set in Australia dealing with the toxic trinity of violence, chauvinism, and injustice.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 8, 2022

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Mark H

Powerful truth telling that no one can afford to miss. As a piece of film it is beautifully shot, the plot is compelling and the acting compelling. I started watching it doubtful. I ended deeply affected by the way it beautifully wove a narrative about courage in the face of cowardly brutality and the power of both truth and family. Leah Purcell and Rob Collins, in particular, were superb. Don’t miss.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/25

Full Review

B A

1hr 30 minutes of beautiful wild landscapes and beatiful bronse Oz story. Then morphed into shakespear speach, sadistic, bizare, tangent, decline into sad anthropological abyse. I wanted the heros to live. There was no cliché clique Tarentinoesque cartoon characters. Choreography 10 editing 8 due to Script 7 acting 8. Music 8 Music mix 5 Please have another go at this again when you have the energy. Love all.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

David S

This movie was awful. It really should have been pretty good, but whoever directed it is an idiot. So much wasted air, a lot of pointless dead end stories. And the suspenseful music, like way too much at odd times. It sucked

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/26/25

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Andrew M

A great Australian story with stunning scenery and cinematography. A movie narrative with great acting throughout.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

Full Review

Debbie B

Awesome cinematography. Heart wrenching story, with powerful performances by Leah Purcell, Rob Collins and Malachi Dower-Roberts.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/07/24

Full Review

Cw W

Fantastic, a must see. Leah Purcell has made and starred in a brilliant film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/24

Full Review

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The Legend of Molly Johnson: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In 1893 on an isolated property, a heavily pregnant woman named Molly Johnson (Leah Purcell) and her children struggle to survive the harsh Australian landscape; her husband is gone, droving sheep in the high country. Molly then finds herself confronted by a shackled Aboriginal fugitive named Yadaka (Rob Collins). As an unlikely bond begins to form between them, secrets unravel about her true identity. Meanwhile, realizing Molly's husband is missing, new town lawman Nate Clintoff becomes suspicious and sends his constable to investigate. The deadly encounter between Molly, Yadaka and the constable results in a tragic chain of events with Molly becoming a symbol of feminism and anti-racism.

Director: Leah Purcell
Producer: David Jowsey, Angela Littlejohn, Greer Simpkin, Bain Stewart, Leah Purcell
Screenwriter: Leah Purcell, Leah Purcell
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co: Bunya Productions, Doco Digital, Oombarra Productions
Genre: Drama, Western
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 19, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 19, 2022
Runtime: 1h 49m

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