Silver Spring, MD — Based on the bestselling memoir by historian Jill Ker Conway, The Road from Coorain, debuts on DVD from Acorn Media on March 2, 2010. Adapted by screenwriter Sue Smith (The Island), the extraordinary coming-of-age story follows the formative years of one of Australia’s most celebrated feminists. Winner of numerous awards, The Road from Coorain is a visually lush, emotionally compelling drama about childhood and the relationship between two extraordinary women. The drama was broadcast on PBS’s Masterpiece Theater in 2002 and 2003 but has never been available before on DVD (www.AcornOnline.com, $29.99).

Born in the 1930s on a remote sheep ranch in New South Wales, Jill Ker (Katherine Slattery, Young Lions) learns early to love the untamable land—and the allure of books. While her brothers attend boarding school, she stays at Coorain, working beside her beloved father and learning from Eve (Juliet Stevenson; Truly, Madly, Deeply), her strong-willed mother. Theirs is a stoic family, but years of drought take their toll on Coorain and on the Kers. Jill endures several family tragedies, growing into a young woman of passion and ambition. But Eve buckles under the weight of grief, inspiring her daughter to break free and find her own way.

Also starring Richard Roxburgh (Moulin Rouge!) as Jill’s charismatic father, Bill, and Tim Guinee (Sweet Land) as Alec Merton, Jill’s first love.

The Road from Coorain won several major Australian awards, including the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Miniseries/Telemovie; the Australian Film Institute awards for Best Actress, Best Direction, and Best Telefeature or Mini-Series; and awards form the Australian Cinematographers Society and the Australian Writers’ Guild.

Street Date: March 2, 2010 SRP: $29.99
DVD Single - Approx. 97 minutes - SDH Subtitles
DVD FEATURES: Biography of Jill Ker Conway and Juliet Stevenson filmography.

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British television. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.