Better Man (miniseries)
| Company type | Mini-series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | July 25, 2013 |
| Founder | Khoa Do (creator and director) |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Stephen Corvini (producer), Khoa Do (creator and director) |
| Products | Television drama series |
Better Man is an Australian four-part biographical mini-series that first aired on SBS TV on 25 July 2013 and was rebroadcast in February 2014. Created and directed by Khoa Do with production by Stephen Corvini, the series features a distinguished ensemble cast including David Wenham, Bryan Brown, Claudia Karvan, alongside newcomer Remy Hii. SBS promoted it as having the most "star-studded cast" in the network’s history.
Synopsis
Better Man portrays the true-life events surrounding Van Tuong Nguyen, a 25-year-old Vietnamese-Australian who was convicted of drug trafficking in Singapore, sentenced to death in 2004, and executed in 2005.
The narrative explores Nguyen’s difficult yet affectionate childhood with his twin brother and devoted mother, leading up to a widely publicized three-year legal effort to prevent his execution, spearheaded by Melbourne lawyer Julian McMahon and barrister Lex Lasry.
Cast
- Remy Hii as Van Tuong Nguyen
- David Wenham as Julian McMahon
- Bryan Brown as Lex Lasry
- Jordan Rodrigues as Khoa Nguyen
- Hien Nguyen (mother of director Khoa Do) as Kim Nguyen
- Claudia Karvan as Bernadette McMahon
- Aileen Huynh as Kelly Ng
- Carmel Rose as Rachel
- Sachin Joab as Inspector Ramesh
- Felino Dolloso as Alan
- Terry Lim as Father Giang
- Mahesh Jadu as Shanmugam Murugesu
- Greg Stone as Drennan, AFP
- Edwina Royce as Angie McMahon
- Nhung Kate as Vy, Van Tuong Nguyen's partner
Development
The development of Better Man spanned three years, led by Stephen Corvini, Khoa Do, and Timothy Hobart. The project involved consultation with Van’s lawyer Julian McMahon and his closest friends—Kelly Ng, Bronwyn Lew, and Goldgan Ng—who were present during Van’s last visit prior to his execution.
Khoa Do wrote the screenplay based on thorough interviews, Van’s private letters, court documents, arrest records, and his appeal for clemency.
Filming
Filming took place between October and December 2012 across Melbourne, Australia, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Scenes depicting Singapore Changi Airport, Changi Prison, and Singapore’s High Court were shot in Melbourne, whereas locations set in Cambodia and Vietnam were filmed on location in Vietnam.
Controversy
The series faced criticism from Van Tuong Nguyen's family for reopening painful memories; his mother Kim declined participation and called for the project to be halted. Lex Lasry, Nguyen’s former legal counsel, denounced the production as an "untruthful soap opera" that perpetuated the family’s suffering. In response to these concerns, SBS included a disclaimer clarifying that the Nguyen family had "no direct involvement" in the making of the series.
Reception
Better Man received widespread critical praise for its powerful performances and Khoa Do's compelling direction. David Knox of TV Tonight labeled it "the best local drama of the year," while Dianne Butler from The Herald Sun regarded it as "the most gripping TV drama of the year." Lyndall Crisp of The Australian selected it as "pick of the week," describing it as "harrowing but well worth watching." Gordon Farrer from The Sydney Morning Herald named it "Show of the Week," emphasizing its sharp writing and assured direction as essential viewing. Additionally, TV Tonight ranked Better Man at number one in its "Top 5 Shows of 2013" for Australian television.