Divorce Stories

Synopsis

Around 200,000 Australians marry every year. Over 43 per cent of these marriages will fail. This three-part series takes a close-up and personal look at divorce as people reveal their experiences, from marriage to breakup, conflict to compromise. We go inside homes, mediation offices and the courtroom to hear from couples, their children, judges and a private investigator. The result is an honest and compassionate exploration of an important contemporary issue - one that is having a huge impact not just on individuals, but on our society and our future.

Impact

Divorce Stories first screened on SBS Television in September 2005 over three weeks.

The series was extremely well received, with considerable media interest in the subject matter (see below). It was nominated a Logie Award for Most Outstanding Documentary Series and won the Sydney Morning Herald ‘Couch Potato’ Award in 2005. It also won a certificate of merit at the Chicago International Hugo Awards for Excellence in Television.

Film Australia is in process of developing accompanying teachers notes, and distributes the program (via DVD and VHS sales) to schools, libraries, community groups across Australia, government departments (in social, welfare and community services) as well as licensing the series to international broadcasters.

Curriculum links include Human Services, Community & Family Studies, Law/Legal Studies, SOSE/HSIE, Sociology, Counselling, English and Media..

Media comments:

“..thoughtful, plain-talking series is part observational, part investigative and part explorational, illustrating no thesis and pushing no ideological barrows….And with compassion and no sentiment [Steve Westh] starkly show the emotionally diminishing effect of the experience…[The courtroom scenes] are compelling, chilling and deeply moving.” Graeme Blundell, The Weekend Australian, 10 September 2005

“.. the stories put together with intelligence, compassion and a respect for the pragmatism and decency of many of the participants.” Diana Bagnall, The Bulletin, 14 September 2005

“.. a feather in the cap of Film Australia… This is a compelling, heartbreaking, illuminating series. For all of those reasons and more, it’s an outstanding achievement.” Michael Idato, Sydney Morning Herald, 26 September 2005

“The secret to the success of this series lies in honest stories and simple storytelling.” Ruth Ritchie, The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 September 2005

“..a very watchable, often moving portrayal of divorce in Australia.. a great reminder that there are two sides to every story.” Jacqui Taffel, The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 September 2005