Set in Sydney in 1959, Oscar®-nominated writer/director Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy; Tender Mercies; Breaker Morant) takes us back to the heyday of glamorous upscale department stores, when a concierge met you at the door and clerks wore gloves. The story centers on 16-year-old, bookish, naive Lisa (Angourie Rice), who takes a job in the store at Christmas time and finds herself under the management and tutelage of Magda (Julia Ormond), a sophisticated postwar European immigrant who begins to have a profound influence on Lisa’s world view. Beautifully shot (and a fashion lover’s delight), the film weaves in integration of immigrants and women’s changing societal roles that remain timely today. Filled with equal parts emotional drama and observational humor, Beresford brings us into a world where we can delight in the company of smart, sassy, and relatable women.

Director Bruce Beresford, Producers Allanah Zitserman, Morris Ruskin and Actors Julia Ormond, Rachael Taylor, Alison McGirr, Celia Massingham