''After the Deluge'' is a 2003 Australian television miniseries starring

Ray Barrett Raymond Charles Barrett (2 May 19278 September 2009) was an Australian actor. During the 1960s, he was a leading actor on British television, where he was best known for his appearances in ''The Troubleshooters'' (1965–1971). From the 1970s, ...

David Wenham David Wenham (born 21 September 1965) is an Australian actor who has appeared in film, television and theatre. He is known for his roles as Faramir in ''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy, Friar Carl in '' Van Helsing'', Dilios in '' 300'' ...

Hugo Weaving Hugo Wallace Weaving (born 4 April 1960) is an English actor. Born in Colonial Nigeria to English parents, he has resided in Australia for the entirety of his career. He is the recipient of six Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts ...

and Samuel Johnson. It was first broadcast by Channel Ten in two parts in June 2003.

Cast

– Alex Kirby *

– Martin 'Marty' Kirby * Samuel Johnson – Toby Kirby *

Aden Young Aden Young (born 30 November 1971) is a Canadian-Australian actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Daniel Holden in the SundanceTV drama '' Rectify'', for which he was twice nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Acto ...

– Young Cliff *

– Old Cliff Kirby *

Catherine McClements Catherine McClements is an Australian stage, film and television actress and television presenter. She is known for her TV roles in '' Water Rats'' and '' Tangle'', for which she won Logie Awards, and has performed in stage productions for thea ...

– Nikki Kirby *

Essie Davis Esther Davis (born 19 January 1970) is an Australian actress and singer, best known for her roles as Phryne Fisher in ''Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries'' and its film adaptation, '' Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears'', and as Amelia Vanek in '' T ...

– Beth *

Rachel Griffiths Rachel Anne Griffiths (born in 1968) is an Australian actress. Raised primarily in Melbourne, she began her acting career appearing on the Australian series ''Secrets'' before being cast in a supporting role in the comedy ''Muriel's Wedding'' ...

– Annie *

Kate Beahan Kate Beahan (born 12 October 1974) is an Australian film actress. Beahan was born in Perth. She appeared mostly in movies and TV series in Australia. Her best-known American film role was playing Sister Willow Woodward in the 2006 horror remak ...

– Margaret *

Vince Colosimo Vincenzo Colosimo (born 11 November 1966) is an Australian AFI Award winning stage, television and screen actor. He has worked in both Australia and the United States. He is of Italian descent and lives in Melbourne, Australia. He was previousl ...

– Eric *

Marta Dusseldorp Marta Dusseldorp (born 1 February 1973) is an Australian stage, film and theatre actress. Her television credits include ''BlackJack'', ''Crownies'' (and its spin-off '' Janet King''), ''Jack Irish'' and '' A Place to Call Home''. Early life an ...

– Eva * Bob Franklin – Sid *Marco Chiappi – Bevan *

Simon Burke Simon Gareth Burke (born 8 October 1961) is an Australian actor, active in films, television and theatre. Biography Simon Burke began his career at the age of 12, starring in Michael Cove's ''Kookaburra''; a painful look at a dysfunctional wo ...

– Michael *

Tara Morice Tara Morice (born 23 June 1964) is an Australian actress. Background Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Morice also lived in Sydney, Alice Springs and Adelaide as a child. She is a fifth-generation Australian and is of English, Irish, Scottish, Latvia ...

– Dianne * Emily Browning – Maddy * Dominic Smith - Schoolboy

Story

Cliff, a former music teacher, is stricken with alzheimers and is living in a nursing home. His three sons, with whom he has had a difficult, at times estranged, relationship, are all struggling with their lives and their roles in a post-feminist world. The eldest son, Martin is a fading former rock n roll star but he is still clinging to his musical dreams. The middle son, Alex, has a successful career and a middle-class lifestyle but his marriage is crumbling. Toby, the youngest and gentlest of the three, wants to have the perfect family and he alone is making an effort to stay connected with his own father. The dementia-stricken Cliff relives his past, first as a talented young musician who falls in love with the equally talented Margaret but their promising careers and love affair are both cut short by the advent of the Second World War. An army officer in Singapore during the Japanese invasion, Cliff is saved from death by a Welsh Sergeant named Sid who sacrifices his own life but the former then has to endure years of captivity. Returning to Australia, Cliff discovers Margaret, thinking he was lost, has married another man. Cliff becomes a school-teacher, marries a co-worker and they have three sons. However the marriage is a strained one as Cliff, traumatised by the war, feeling trapped by his obligations as a family man and unhappy over losing Margaret and his chances at a music career, begins to take out his resentment on his family. Alex's wife leaves him and the stress affects his performance at work. Martin's attempts to restart his music career fail whilst Toby and his wife struggle to start a family. Through flashbacks, it is revealed that Margaret re-appeared in Cliff's life, offering to restart their relationship but Cliff gives up his last chance of true love by choosing to remain with his sons, a sacrifice that his sons will never know. Alex quits the firm he works for and goes solo, becoming much happier in the process, relishing the time he gets to spend with his own children. Martin accepts that his youth and his dreams are over and he instead embraces the present and a new relationship, managing to re-connect with his father also. Toby's wife manages to fall pregnant and in his utter joy, he realises he will be a far better parent to his child than his own father ever was. In the nursing home, Cliff is visited by a vision of Sid. Cliff apologises to Sid for not achieving his dreams but Sid points out that he managed to raise three fine boys. Cliff smiles for the first time. Imagining he is back on a sinking ship during the war, Cliff leaves his room and drowns himself in the nursing home's indoor swimming pool.

Awards

* AFI Awards ::Best Actress in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy – Essie Davis ::Best Telefeature or Mini-Series – Richard Keddie, Andrew Knight, Andrew Wiseman ::Best Direction in Television – Brendan Maher ::Best Actor in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy – Samuel Johnson (nominated) ::Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy – Ray Barrett (nominated) ::Best Screenplay in Television – Andrew Knight (nominated) ::Open Craft Award – Television – Cezary Skubiszewski For original music (nominated) ::Young Actor's Award – Emily Browning (nominated) * Logie Awards 2004 ::Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series –

::Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series – David Wenham * ARIA Music Awards 2003 ::Best Original Soundtrack Album – Cezary Skubiszewski (nominated) *

AWGIE Awards The AWGIE Awards is an annual awards ceremony conducted by the Australian Writers' Guild, for excellence in screen, television, stage and radio writing. The awards began in 1967. The awards are judged by over 50 writers, most of whom are previou ...

2003 ::Television – Mini-Series – Original – Andrew Knight *

Australian Cinematographers Society The Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1958 for the purpose of providing a forum for Australian cinematographers to further develop their skills through mutual co-operation. Location Its Nati ...

– Golden Tripod 2004 ::Telefeatures, TV Drama & Mini Series – Geoff Burton

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, id=0304983, title=After the Deluge 2003 television films 2003 films Australian drama television films Films set in Australia Australian romantic drama films