The Violent Earth
| The Violent Earth | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical drama |
| Based on | Terre violente by Jacqueline Sénès |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Michael Offer[1] |
| Starring | Karina Lombard Claudia Karvan Claire Nebout |
| Country of origin | Australia France |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Jock Blair[1] |
| Running time | 3 x 120 mins |
| Production companies | Crawford Productions Gaumont |
| Budget | $10 million |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nine Network |
| Release | 17 September – 24 September 1999 (AU) |
The Violent Earth is a 1998 French-Australian co-production miniseries set in New Caledonia from 1888 to 1977.[2] It was broadcast on the Nine Network in Australia.[3]
Plot
The series is set in New Caledonia, and follows the Australian-Irish Sutton family and the indigenous Kanaks amidst French colonialism.[2]
Production
The series is adapted from the novel Terre violente by Jacqueline Sénès.[4] Production on the series was supposed to begin in 1995, however, it did not begin until 1997.[5] It had a budget of $10 million.[3] The Violent Earth is a co-production between Gaumont and Crawford Productions. It was filmed on-location in Paris, Noumea, Port Douglas and Melbourne.[6] The Violent Earth was broadcast from 17 September 1999 in Australia.[4]
Cast
- Karina Lombard : Anna Temaru
- Claudia Karvan : Jeanne
- Claire Nebout : Hélène
- Brittany Byrnes : Young Hélène
- Laure Killing : Maximilienne Sutton
- Joe Petruzzi : Vincenzo Scarpinato
- Arnaud Giovaninetti : Carlo Scarpinato
- Simone Kessell : Gabrielle
- Jay Laga'aia : Jean-Christian
- Andrew McFarlane : Tom Sutton
- Daniel Daperis : Young Tom
- Jeremy Callaghan : John Sutton
- Bernard Verley : Hippocrates
- Bill Hunter : Campbell
- Rodney Bell : François
- Manu Bennett : Wanatcha DuValier
- Martin Copping : Mr. Best
- Frank Gallacher : Father Moissan
- Mark Gerber : Roland
- Peter McCauley : Theroux
- Sally McDonald : Jill
- Andrew McKaige : Gendarme Captain
- Rosaline Nachero : Clarisse
- Peter O'Brien : Yann Chevalier
- Pierre Pudewa : Chief Pore
- Justine Saunders : Aunt Junie
- William Takaku : Magnus
- Bud Tingwell : Bishop Guiart
Reception
At the 40th Australian Film Institute Awards, The Violent Earth received nominations for Best Television Mini-Series or Telefeature, Best Achievement in Direction in a Television Drama, and Best Screenplay in a Television Drama.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d "The Violent Earth 1998". Screen Australia. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ a b Murray, Scott (1996). Australia on the Small Screen 1970–1995. Oxford University Press. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-19-553949-3.
- ^ a b Brown, David (7 June 1997). "Inside Info". TV Week. p. 6.
- ^ a b Oakley, Matt (16 September 1999). "Local drama is Gallic bred". The Age. Retrieved 10 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Highlights Television". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 September 1999. Retrieved 10 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Browne, Rachel (22 March 1998). "Revival of the mini". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 January 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Winners & Nominees 1998 Television". Australian Film Institute. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
External links
- The Violent Earth at Crawfords website
- The Violent Earth at IMDb
- The Violent Earth at Australian Television