Okay. If you live in Australia you might have watched The Slap on ABC TV or iView already. If you don’t, you may not know that The Slap is the dramatisation of Christos Tsiolkas best selling novel. Both the book and the TV series were written and filmed in Melbourne. And my they got this show done quickly, because I know they were shooting it earlier this year. (They did ask if they could use our car in the show, but now I am glad they did not want it, because I would not want HECTOR in MY CAR. OMG.) Anyhoo, regardless of speedy time frame, I think they have done a great job, judging from Ep One, even though Hector makes me feel a bit sick.
When I watched The Slap, I sort of squinted and watched it, closing my eyes at some of the scenes which were a little too gritty for me. I was really interested in who they cast, and how they decided to pull the stories within the book together. I think they did a great job, because the show made me feel just like the book did. Interested, shocked, compelled, sad. Of course The Slap has ignited debate about breastfeeding older toddlers, as Melissa George’s character Rosie comfort feeds her 3 year old, Hugo a couple of times in this ep. Gawsh. Personally I do not like to pass judgement on other people’s parenting, especially when we are talking about breast feeding. It’s slapping I do not like. Feeding little children is something most parents can make their own choices about, I reckon. Boobs, bottles, bananas… whatever you think is best for your kid sounds good to me. And you can do it in front of me and I will say ‘Eat Up Buttercup’ to your wee kidlet. I’m cool like that.
How about you? Did you watch? What did you think of the first episode?
xx Pip
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hmmm yes I read the book, and now I may watch the film version… It was morbidly fascinating, yes. Such flawed characters… I am a bit dumb-founded as to why the parenting issues have been steam-rollering the slap! People are SO judgemental… but then this book is really asking people to make their judgements, don't you think?
The whole premise of the book, the actual slap was lost in the diabolical writing. Fuck after fuck. Mysoginistic crap. There was nothing of note at all to the book. Looks like the TV series may actually be an improvement. Like to support both Aussie writing and TV whenever possible. But Tsolkas' work did nothing for me. Sue
As for extended breastfeeding – sure, breastfeeding is normal and natural. So is weaning, and there is a time for both. Breastfeeding is for babies, not children almost old enough to go to school.
Yep, I loved it, very true to the book – I don't often like tv/movie adaptations. Definitely cringey and uncomfortable viewing, but that is Tsiolkas' way of writing in my opinion. All of the books of his that I've read have horrible, unhappy characters, there are very few happy stories in his writing.
I have to say that weirdly, although I disliked Hector, I also found him very attractive… ugh. I don't like what this says about me!!!
Can't wait for the next ep.
What a debate! The Slap is the first book I've read that I've had to stop reading because all the characters were so unappealing. I also don't know if such a mix of people would even be friends. There were too many token characters. Now that I'm over forty, and have very set opinions, I have to say that I do not agree with breastfeeding for that long, and I have never believed that slapping a child is the right way to discipline. I also feel very uncomfortable with infidelity, and do not enjoy watching it. HOWEVER I do like Australian productions, and may just watch one episode to give it a go.
On a different note, I am having a book giveaway (of a nice, chicklit book by Cecelia Ahern) on my blog if you would like to drop by! ๐
It's fiction. No children were harmed in the making of this TV show.
That said, the obnoxious, indulged kid deserved a slap and so did his self-absorbed, delusional parents.
Did you see Christos Tsiolkas – the author – on Compass last night?
Interesting.
i havn't watched it, yet hmmm but maybe i will do just right now! I agree with teddybearswednesday Jess.. I remember a few smacks through out my child hood from my very poor stressed out unhappy single mother who didnt have alot of support and i am fine, no scars no problems no mental issues or whatever. i think the slap debate is fair though, physical punishment is not on but as an instantaneous and immediate reaction very naughy children it shouldn't be so shunned and maybe people need to get off their high horse about it! i think spoiling and coddling children is worse then slapping?
Oh wasn't it a tense party?! So much under tow – I wondered if Harry was slapping the father through the child given their exchange…Wow, when i heard about this "slap" I envisaged a smack on the bum or arm -NEVER a full slap on the face!!! Interesting to see that the hosts weren't assertive to state some boundaries of their home. I would and have done before – ask a parent, nicely, would they mind stopping their child from doing x or y in my house, thanks I appreciate it.
Not that hard and have never upset anyone to date.
Can't wait for the next episode…PS if anyone laid a hand on one my kids like that i would react in the extreme too i am sure!
I was cringing through most of the first episode, yet i couldn't look away. You could tell the tension was building, it was produced really well i thought.
Can't wait for the rest of the series. I haven't read the book yet, i'm not sure I could read it without being disturbed even more than i am watching it! Which makes it a great show, as it's brining out so much emotion and discussion in people! yay!
Thanks for the iview tip, I thought this show was a pay-tv thing. While I thought the book was well written, that part about the breastfeeding ticked me off because Tsiolkas definitely presented it as improper, and used it to make a larger point about the character being overly identified with and subsumed by her motherhood. I didn't appreciate that. People who judge mothers' feeding their children in any way are intrusive and inappropriate.
I expect I will probably be throwing things at the computer screen very soon, all those unlikeable characters :o)
thanks Pip for bringing this up, I watched it yesterday on iview after noticing promotions everywhere. I really enjoyed the first episode.
Loved the music! and the summeriness of it all.
I found all of the characters appealing in some way and it has prompted me to look at aspects of relationships in my life.
I'm guessing each episode will focus on a different character which I think will be enjoyable but leave me wanting more.
must find the book at the library. thanks Ch
Most of the characters are well-meaning in some way or other… even Hector, he "almost" tried to enjoy the party he didn't want! And despite his lechering he did back off saying he loved his wife! The wife means well by putting on a big party for him. The hippy parents mean well by bringing up their child with no boundaries (albeit unsuccessfully). The parents mean well by bringing the food they are told not to bring and buying the trip to Greece.
The cousin even meant well by the slap in that he was trying to stop this kid from behaving aggressively to all the other kids – don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the slap was right… I'm just saying that if I saw a kid behaving like this my hand would twitch too! But ultimately I would have turned to the parents and told them to take their obnoxious child home! I realise this wouldn't make me very popular but people (and their children) who lack respect lose my respect.
At the end of the day despite all of this well-meaningness all of the characters become a wee bit unlikeable! And I think that show neatly encapsulates (generalisation alert!) spoilt middle-class suburban family life in Australia… when you unpack all of their individual worries, it is all a bit petty really!
Anyway… stepping off my soapbox… it is all this that will have me watching ep2.
Good discussion! I haven't read the book but enjoyed and was disturbed by ep. 1.
Great casting, great building of tension from the first few scenes, it is clear that something is rotten in a lot of the relationships throughout, even though the party is forcing everyone to paste on a smile and get along. And Hector – ugh! But brilliantly played, because it seems most of us respond strongly to him.
An overly intertwined (dare I say, sometimes co-dependant) family dynamic always makes my skin crawl – mothers-in-law taking control in their son's homes, sons not speaking up for their wives etc. – so that really hit me.
The child who got slapped was clearly out of control, which is a result of many parenting choices. If you live on an island with you and yours alone, then don't ever discipline your child – easy, nobody gets annoyed. If you're in the world with others, time to pony up and insist on acceptable behaviours. Sharing is good!
I think that the 'hippy' couple were suffering a severe case of 'not my beautiful boy' – wake up!
Will definitely watch again and would be interested to read the book after the fact to see what's been changed.
Great to be able to give my feedback. Good one Pip!
Oh Pip I was hoping you were going to post about this! I was quite captivated by the novel (enjoyed would be too strong a word but I could not put it down). I've never read a book that's provoked so much conversation.
Was put off the first episode straight away though by the voice-over – so unnecessary! But it definitely had the shock factor and made me feel quite uncomfortable at times, so I guess it was a successful adaptation in that respect.
Glad that Hector's out of the way now. Really looking forward to the Anouk, Richie and Connie episodes.
Happy Sunday!
I loved the first episode and I loved the book. I of course didn't love everything that happened but it got me thinking and of course I made judgements but that is why I think it is so good….it is so real…..I could imagine it all happening. Not in my tiny, quiet little life but out there in the world. I am a sucker for most Australian movies and think they cast the characters perfectly. Melissa George is ideal for her role (whoever would have thought?) and the reason why everyone in your comments dislikes Hector so much is because he does it soooo well.
Can't wait for more…I love it when I have something to look forward to on tele….bring back "secret life of us" ?Jo
Hi Pip,
I have been going over and over the plot and the way it has made me feel and wondering how overall it has been received. I did not read the book.
I thought the casting and the acting was excellent, even from little Hugo.
The "slap" to me is like saying to an young child, welcome to our adult world that can be painful, hurtful , deceitful, and sometimes downright crappy.
I figured that the majority of punters would focus on the extended breastfeeding, especially of a boy. Using this an a reason why the boy was badly behaved. But at least Melissa G.'s character was trying to do some sort of parenting. All the other adults were so consumed with their crappy lives there was no engagement with their children. The kids were squabbling all over their "stuff". Of course something was going to happen, if someone did not step in.
Would have been nice that after been kicked on the shin, the man could have tickled the little boy and used humour and laughter and diffuse the tension.
My hubby said to me this am, it is ok with him if I wanted to feed my son till he was 4 or so.
Have a great day Pip. Love that term "eat it up buttercup"
x
Jill
Loved the book.
I loved how truthfully the characters were written.
I didn't quite believe some of the actors in the roles – particularly Hector/Jonathan LaPaglia – something just jarred a little.
But on the whole – I really enjoyed the first tv instalment – can't wait to see what they've done with the rest of the book.
Loved the book.
Love all of Christos Tsiolkas' work.
Oh, Hector, yuk, Harry double yuk…great start to the series last week even though it was uncomfortable watching it.
Also love the Melbs focus.
I agree with you about how the show made my feel icky and uncomfortable and appalled yet at the same time compelling to watch. I also agree about the whole breastfeeding ho ha, i mean yawn.
But I also agree with Sarah, i actually don't think it's as black and white as " bad to slap" breastfeeding rah,
that's what I liked the show how it dealt with the complexities of families, parties, people and live and the tension between people.
While I don't believe in hitting children i don't think in this intense it's as clear cut, it's complicated and wrongs on both sides. The hitting is wrong, but the child is out of control and knows no limits.
i know what i'm saying will be unpopular but it's what I feel. xo
I really loved the book, even though I didn't like it at all. The only characters I really enjoyed was Anouk and Hector's dad.
The characters aren't meant to be likeable or lovely. Otherwise, we'd be watching tripe like The Rafters et al.
I certainly do not agree with corporal punishment, and anyone who did that to my child, no matter who they were, would be dead to me from that moment on. Excised surgically from my life and that of my child.
However, I would like to think that my child would not behave in such a manner.
I am not keen on extended breastfeeding, but I certainly believe that if other people want to do it, then they are free to do so. It's a free country and their rack, their child, their decision.
I was more concerned about the slack parenting from all of the parents involved (including the lovely and charming Koula!) than the breastfeeding issue. I see Melissa George did not avail herself of a stunt breast – those perky little things have clearly never fed another human being!
All in all, really enjoyed the first episode and will be sitting down next week to enjoy the next episode.
As a point about likeable characters, I've been watching Crownies (now bumped til after The Slap) and whilst I really enjoy the characters, I am bored to tears by the lack of storyline in the program. I'll take fascinating storyline and unpleasant characters any day!
I haven't watched it yet btu have read the book. I actually thought Hugo was more like 4 going on 5 because I am sure there was something in the book about him starting school the following year. Can't wait to watch it
Love love loved both, the book and the first ep. Great casting, and so good to finally see the characters, after imagining them in my head for so long.
I'm thinking of going back to the book and reading each character after seeing their ep, just to flesh it out a bit more.
The only thing I questioned was the narrator, somehow his tone was a bit story telling and didn't quite fit.
Can't wait for next week!
I watched but I have mixed feelings about the casting, although they are all superb actors. Watching it made me feel much the same as reading the book…uncomfortable!
I really liked it. The tension built so well throughout the episode. I kept wanting to look away too and even though this is nothing like my family, I related to how all of the frustrating, small and petty things that happen when that many family and friends are together can become too much! I dislike Hector too but I was also really annoyed by Hugo's father. There was just something about him! It was before the slap happened. He was so high and mighty. No child deserves to be slapped across the face by a grown man, but I also don't think a 3 year old should be able to dominate just because he is young and doesn't know any better. Grr!
It was so well done!
I tried to watch it but honestly, I hate cheating so bad so I could not watch. Too sad.
I didn't get to watch it but I wanted too…although I'm not sure I would like it. I tend to react badly to abuse…or infidelity in any form…maybe I'll give it a go after all it's good to see some good aussie stuff on the box ๐
Yeah worth watching I say but can't stand that main character, he is an absolute slime bag, my grand mother would have called him Smarmy i don't know how she (his wife) ever managed to get married to him but then she is a right pain in the a as well and boy would not want to live with her!! holy moley they were all awful but that's great telly i think if it makes 'one' so passionate!! so bring on next week.
I was surprised most of the judgement on Twitter was about the breastfeeding and the parenting of the boy and not the slap. How can hitting someone else's child be more acceptable then breastfeeding at any age!!!??? Crazy!
I started the book but because I disliked the main character so much I didn't continue reading it – might have to pick it up again ๐ And my mother-in-law has just read it and she didn't like Hector either!
You're right Pip! The show has made me feel the same way that the book did, a bit intrigued, horrified, repulsed, but like a crash I couldn't look away. I think they have done a great job with the casting. Hector is exactly the way I imagined him. (can't stand him). I'm also with you on the breastfeeding issue. (I fed my daughter til she was 2 1/2 at the same time as my newborn, but only at home because people are so judgmental about it!) Love its Melbourne feel and looking forward to next week!
Hey Pip,
I completely agree with what you said. Going to watch it again next week though. I think we should support our Aussie actors,author's etc. Just a piece of useless info,pretty sure Hector's wife was the princess in the 2nd Ace Ventura movie! It might be nice to use her name but i don't know it!
Have a great weekend.