Fields of Fire (1987)

The tale of an outsider making good in the harsh tropical conditions of Australia's north, Fields of Fire is a two part miniseries from the award winning producers of The Leaving of Liverpool and Rabbit-Proof Fence. When Bluey (Todd Boyce, Great Expectations: The Untold Story) arrives in the north Queensland town of Silkwood in 1938, nothing prepares him for the challenging conditions of life on the land. Finding a job with a gang of cane cutters, Bluey discovers the true nature of hard work - a dangerous and risky occupation where sugarcane fields are scorched to rid them of snakes and other pests. As WWII becomes a growing concern, many of the men enlist to fight abroad, leaving behind loved ones. Struggling to earn the respect of the locals, Bluey soon catches the attention of two sisters, Kate (Anna Hruby, The Harp in the South) and Dusty (Melissa Docker), with their mother, Silkwood's grand matriarch, keeping a close eye on the newcomer and his intentions.