Original classification rating: G.
This clip chosen to be PG
Clip description
Noeline Baker’s insistence that Paul Baker and wife Dione could and should do better to provide for their newborn son is exacerbating tensions that have long existed between Paul and his mother.
Curator’s notes
This excerpt opens with a scene in which Dione, feeling vulnerable in her post-natal state, is transformed by a simple trip to the hairdressers. The camera captures perfectly her delight at the new self she sees reflected in the mirror and the equal pleasure on husband Paul’s face when he comes to pick her up. Simple, satisfying moments like these are what soap operas often miss completely, despite their reputation for recording the minutiae of everyday life. Similarly touching scenes of Paul and Dione’s wonder at the miracle of parenthood are intercut, as this clip briefly shows, with Noeline’s unwanted intrusions, her well-intentioned but usually misplaced advice.
It is unlikely that the producers set out to portray Noeline as the monster typified by the British tabloid press headline, ‘Meet Noeline: By Tonight You’ll Hate Her Too’. The documentary is actually a lot more objective about her than either the British newspapers or the Australian critics were at the time. As seen here, Noeline comes over as a doting grandmother who makes the quite common assumption that success is measured by the extent of your material possessions. Paul has a completely different idea of what constitutes happiness. Noeline’s ‘treading lightly’ on the subject of Paul and Dione buying their own home eventually drives a wedge between them, but this clip shows that she is unaware this is even a possibility. Noeline, as director Brian Hill observed, ‘says what she thinks and doesn’t always think what she’s saying’. And that’s what makes her such a compelling ‘character’ for the audience.
Thanks to the generosity of the rights holders, we are able to offer Big bad Granny from the documentary Sylvania Waters – Episode 5 as a high quality video download.
To play the downloadable video, you need QuickTime 7.0, VLC, or similar.
You must read and agree to the following terms and conditions before downloading the clip:
Downloadable Video – FOR EDUCATIONAL CRITICISM AND REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY
This clip is available for download for the limited purpose of criticism and review in an educational context. You must obtain permission from editorial@aso.gov.au for all other purposes for use of this material.
Terms & Conditions
australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described here and elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.
All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions. ALL rights are reserved.
You must read and agree to the following terms and conditions before downloading this clip:
When you access ABC materials on australianscreen you agree that:
- You may download this clip to assist your information, criticism and review purposes in conjunction with viewing this website only;
- Downloading this clip for purposes other than criticism and review is Prohibited;
- Downloading for purposes other than non-commercial educational uses is Prohibited;
- Downloading this clip in association with any commercial purpose is Prohibited;
The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.
ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.
This clip is available in the following configurations:
| File name | Size | Quality | Suitability |
|
sylvania2_pr.mp4
|
Large: 14.8MB |
High |
Optimised for full-screen display on a fast computer. |
|
sylvania2_bb.mp4
|
Medium: 7.0MB |
Medium |
Can be displayed full screen. Also suitable for video iPods. |
Right-click on the links above to download video files to your computer.
Thanks to the generosity of the rights holders, we are able to offer this clip in an embeddable format for personal or non-commercial educational use in full form on your own website or your own blog.
You must read and agree to the following terms and conditions before embedding the clip:
Downloadable Video – FOR EDUCATIONAL CRITICISM AND REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY
This clip is available for download for the limited purpose of criticism and review in an educational context. You must obtain permission from editorial@aso.gov.au for all other purposes for use of this material.
Terms & Conditions
australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described here and elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.
All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions. ALL rights are reserved.
You must read and agree to the following terms and conditions before downloading this clip:
When you access ABC materials on australianscreen you agree that:
- You may download this clip to assist your information, criticism and review purposes in conjunction with viewing this website only;
- Downloading this clip for purposes other than criticism and review is Prohibited;
- Downloading for purposes other than non-commercial educational uses is Prohibited;
- Downloading this clip in association with any commercial purpose is Prohibited;
The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.
ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.
Copy and paste the following code into your own web page to embed this clip:
Share
