While the Men Are Away
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | September 27, 2023 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Drama television series |
| Website | www |
While the Men are Away is a drama series from Australia broadcast on SBS. The narrative centers on Francesca (Michela De Rossi), who takes charge of an apple orchard after her spouse enlists in World War 2. She recruits local women alongside Robert (Matt Testro), labeled a "certified coward," to help manage the farm. The show explores issues such as patriarchy, racism, and homophobia.
Julie Eckersley, Head of Scripted, characterized the series as "a charming revisionist take on history with a touch of truth," emphasizing its warmth, wit, and compelling characters.
Marketed as an "often (though not always) wildly historically inaccurate" dramedy depicting the Australian Women's Land Army during World War II, it debuted with a two-episode premiere on 27 September 2023.
Production
The series was announced in December 2022 as an Arcadia production, backed by significant funding from Screen Australia and support from Screen NSW. Filming began in January 2023, taking place in Orange and the Central West region of New South Wales. The official trailer became available on 22 August 2023.
Cast
- Michela De Rossi as Francesca (Frankie)
- Max McKenna as Gwen
- Phoebe Grainer as Kathleen
- Matt Testro as Robert
- Jana Zvedeniuk as Esther
- Shaka Cook as Murray
- Benedict Hardie as Des
- Mercia Deane-Johns as Mrs Whitmore
Episodes
| Episode | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Get Behind the Girl He Left Behind! |
| 2 | Furrowing the Fuhrer's Brow! |
| 3 | God Spee the Plough and the Women Who Drives It! |
| 4 | She Talked! This Happened! |
| 5 | Come and Join the Victory Harvest |
| 6 | Catch Him with His Panzers Down |
| 7 | We've Always Despised Them, Now We Must Smash Them |
| 8 | We Took the Hill, Come Help Us Keep It! |
Reception
Clare Rigen of The West Australian lauded the series for highlighting those who sustained efforts on the home front during World War II, describing it as "great fun" and "a silly, funny and surprisingly poignant series about a fascinating time in Australian history." Wenlei Ma from The Guardian awarded it 3 out of 5 stars, acknowledging some early tonal shifts but praising its brisk pacing and character growth. Mel Campbell at Screenhub rated it 3½ stars, noting its advocacy for progressive ideals such as economic self-sufficiency and solidarity against entrenched monocultures. Suzy Wrong of Joy 94.9 commended the show's production values and concept, calling it a "rewarding experience" despite a somewhat limited emotional connection to the characters.
External links
- on SBS On Demand