The Legend of Molly Johnson

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The Legend of Molly Johnson

Released Aug 19, 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

Full Review

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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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

Adam M

It's possible this is one of the best Australian films I have seen. Amazing story telling, acting, and filming. It often has dreamy moments of art house undertones, mixed with nostalgia of a time not known. A haunting reminder of how aboriginal people have been treated by colonisation, and also that everyone deserves a fair and just life, that shouldnt be robbed because of skin color.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/14/23

Full Review

Jessica B

Engaging and yet again Leah Purcell has outdone the character!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Wayne M

The Legend of Molly Johnson is a strong and robust Australian film based on the classic Australian story The Drovers’s Wife by Henry Lawson. It has its flaws but is a very meritorious film nonetheless. Leah Purcell stars as Molly and she also wrote and directed the film. Purcell has updated and expanded the film to centre an Indigenous woman as the heart. Molly is left to fend for herself and her children in the Snowy Mountains in the late 19th century when her husband goes droving. She has much to cope with but is aided by passer-by Yadaka who is also wanted for murder. This film spares nothing in depicting the harshness of the times and it looks truly magnificent. It does have some plot holes but is also an exemplary Australian film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/17/23

Full Review

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Leah Purcell

Director

Leah Purcell

Molly Johnson

Rob Collins

Yadaka

Sam Reid

Sergeant Klintoff

Jessica De Gouw

Louisa

Harry Greenwood

John MaPharlen

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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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