The Road From Coorain is based on the memoir of Jill Ker Conway, who became the first female president of Smith College. This memoir has been converted to a made-for-TV movie, and in the US PBS aired it in 2002.
 
The story begins with young Jill growing up in Coorain, Australia. Since her parents’ sheep ranch is located in a remote area, she is home schooled together with her two brothers. When she is not working and helping her parents, she loves to read books. Following her father’s tragic death, Jill’s mother Eve decides to move to Sydney with her children. Jill attends a private school for girls, and later proceeds to the University of Sydney, but her mother does not seem to be100% happy with her daughter’s academic success.
 
The most important as well as interesting character in this drama is definitely Jill’s mother, Eve. She is a controlling and determined woman before her husband dies, but her attitude and personality become even more complicated as time goes by, and so does the relationship between Jill and Eve. Australian actress Juliet Stevenson does a great job portraying the outspoken and opinionated Eve and her emotional deterioration. Eve does not always choose the easiest way or say anything obvious, and that makes the story less predictable. I especially enjoy the tense moment and Eve’s reaction to Jill’s affair with a married American man.
 
Jill and her family go through so much that it is hard to believe that this actually happened, but at the same time this story of grieving, challenging, surviving and hoping gives a perfect opportunity to reveal what kind of influence these tragic events and her mother Eve had on Jill. I have not read the original book, but this is one of the TV adaptations that make me want to read it. It certainly drew my curiosity and desire to find out more about Jill and her mother. In summary, this biopic will satisfy people who love compelling melodrama with heartbreaking moments.