My Brilliant Career is a 1979 Australian drama film directed by Gillian Armstrong, and based on the 1901 novel of the same name by Miles Franklin. The story is set in Australia in the late 19th century, and follows the journey of a young woman named Sybylla Melvyn (played by Judy Davis) who wants to have a career as a writer, but is constantly pressured by her family to marry and settle down.
Sybylla is a headstrong and independent girl who lives with her poor farming family in rural New South Wales. Despite her intelligence and aspirations, she struggles with her social status and is constantly belittled by her mother, who accuses her of being too proud and unfeminine. When an opportunity arises for Sybylla to work as a governess for a wealthy family, she sees it as a chance to pursue her dream of writing. However, her plans are derailed when she falls in love with a local landowner named Harry Beecham (played by Sam Neill).
Despite the attraction between them, Sybylla is torn between her love for Harry and her desire for independence. She eventually rejects his proposal of marriage and chooses to focus on her writing instead, but her decision comes with a price. She struggles to gain recognition for her work and faces rejection from publishers, while also dealing with the societal pressures and expectations of being a woman in a male-dominated world.
My Brilliant Career is a powerful depiction of a young woman's struggle to find her place in society and pursue her passions in the face of opposition. It is a timeless story that resonates with audiences today, and helped launch the careers of both Gillian Armstrong and Judy Davis.