Thou Shalt Not Steal is an Australian crime comedy drama television series created by Dylan River and Tanith Glynn-Maloney that premiered on 17 October 2024, on Stan. The series follows a pair of teenagers as they are chased across the desert by a sex worker and fraudulent preacher. It stars Sherry-Lee Watson, Will McDonald, Miranda Otto, Noah Taylor, Darren Gilshenan, Shari Sebbens, Natasha Wanganeen, and Warren H. Williams.
| Thou Shalt Not Steal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | |
| Directed by | Dylan River |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Vincent Goodyer |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Cinematography | Tyson Perkins |
| Editor | Chris Plummer |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Stan |
| Release | 17 October 2024 |
Premise
editThou Shalt Not Steal is a 1980s-set road drama that follows young Aboriginal delinquent Robyn, who escapes juvenile detention and visits her terminally ill Grandfather, Ringer, in the hospital. Ringer demands to be taken back home, where he claims to have an important errand.
After being unable to pay for a taxi, Robyn is confronted by the driver, Maxine, a madam who tries to recruit her as payment. After a scuffle, Robyn steals the taxi and flees with her Grandfather. Ringer's condition worsens during the drive and he tells Robyn her father is still alive and that he wants her to return a trophy to him. He passes away shortly before they reach the town.
Meanwhile, a fraudulent Preacher, Robert, and his son, Gidge, hold court throughout the town, conducting sermons and secretly selling booze. Gidge desperately wants to leave his father and return to his mother in Adelaide.
Shortly after finding the trophy, Robyn discovers that police have come looking for her and she makes a plan to escape in the stolen taxi. Sensing an opportunity to go home, Gidge hides, stowed away under the backseat. Unaware of his presence, she sets off to find her father in Coober Pedy.
The next day, Maxine arrives in the town and begins making enquiries about the whereabouts of her Taxi. Robert offers her the use of his car to track the teenagers down and they set off in pursuit.
Cast and characters
edit- Sherry-Lee Watson as Robyn, a young Aboriginal delinquent who has recently escaped Juvenile Detention. She is headstrong and good at improvising under pressure.
- Will McDonald as Gidge, an awkward son of a fraudulent preacher who travels the outback. He's uncomfortable with his position and desperately wants to return to his mother in Adelaide.
- Noah Taylor as Robert Snr. a fraudulent preacher on the run from his past and desperate to make easy money, peddling booze and soliciting donations.
- Miranda Otto as Maxine, a cunning madam who manages sex workers around the outback from her taxi. She preys upon passengers who cannot afford their fares and tries to recruit them into her ranks.
- Darren Gilshenan as Mick, a maladroit Australian Federal Police (AFP) Officer who pursues Robyn and Gidge with his partner, Tracey.
- Shari Sebbens as Tracey, an AFP Officer who is in pursuit of Robyn and Gidge with her partner, Mick.
- Natasha Wanganeen as Mary, Robyn's mother.
- Warren H. Williams as Ringer, Robyn's terminally ill grandfather
- Justin Rosniak as Steve, Robyn's father who has left a series of abandoned children in his wake.
Episodes
edit| No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Chapter one: All This For A Cup" |
Dylan River | Dylan River | October 17, 2024 |
| 2 | "Chapter Two: Stealin' Donkeys" | Dylan River, Tanith Glynn-Maloney, Sophie Miller | ||
| 3 | "Chapter Three: Coober Pedy's A Long Way" | |||
| 4 | "Chapter Four: Bullet To The Head..." | |||
| 5 | "Chapter Five: There Will Be Murder" | Dylan River, Sophie Miller | ||
| 6 | "Chapter Six: Biggest Disappointment" | Dylan River, Sophie Miller & Samuel Nuggin-Paynter | ||
| 7 | "Chapter Seven: Ball Bags" | |||
| 8 | "Chapter Eight: Happy Endings" | Dylan River, Tanith Glynn-Maloney, Sophie Miller, Benedict Paxton-Crick |
Production
editDevelopment
editIn 2023, Australian streaming platform Stan announced they were partnering with Ludo Studio to commission an eight-episode road series set in Central and South Australia. Dylan River & Tanith Glynn-Maloney were announced as the series creators, with River to direct all eight episodes. The series received financial investment from Screen Australia, production support from South Australian Film Corporation, Screen Territory and post production incentives from Screen Queensland.[1]
River wrote a 300-page treatment for the project over the COVID-19 lockdowns.[2] The series was intended to build on the themes and tone explored by River in his 2019 series Robbie Hood.[2] River explained he wanted to look at Aboriginal political issues "but through comedy . . . sort of like bent, twisted ways of looking at some dire situations,".[3] Part of River's motivation was to make a series which could reach a more mainstream audience, as he felt like he had been "preaching to the converted" with previous projects and that "Indigenous filmmaking, for the most part, hasn’t quite reached more of a commercial audience."[4]
The decision to set the series in the 1980s was based on River's love for the mechanical aesthetics of the era, stories he had heard from his family and the challenge of storytelling without mobile phones.[4][2] He said: "I love mechanical stuff... I own a couple of 1970s Fords... And storytelling before mobile phones, it's harder but more rewarding. Also, I grew up with a father who was a teenager in the '80s and I'd always hear stories and wish I was around at that time". River also spoke about the "wild" nature of Alice Springs during the period and how petty crimes often became the basis of recreational activities.[4]
In September 2023, Sherry-Lee Watson, Will McDonald, Miranda Otto and Noah Taylor were cast in the series.[5]
Shooting
editThe production began Principal photography in Alice Springs during September 2023.[5]
The series' exteriors were largely shot on the road in locations between Alice Springs and Adelaide, while interiors were shot in Adelaide.[4][6] River was determined to film in real world locations that aligned with the character's journey through the story as much as possible.
Release
editThe series had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, with a screening of the first three episodes[2][7] All eight episodes would later screen at the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs[8] and SXSW Sydney.[9][10]
The series was released on Stan on 17 October 2024.[9][6]
International rights for the series were handled by DCD Rights.[2]
Reception
editCritical response
editThou Shalt Not Steal received a positive response from reviewers.[11] Luke Buckmaster for The Guardian said "Thou Shalt Not Steal has future classic written all over it."[12] Craig Mathieson for The Sydney Morning Herald wrote "it manages to find a genuine emotional core in its young absconders"[11] The series also notably received positive comparisons to the works of the Coen brothers.[13][12]
Sherry-Lee Watson's role was praised as a "star-making lead".[11] Reviewers noted that she did "much of the heavy lifting"[13] and had a performance "chock-full of youthful intemperance, moving with a coy and cheeky swagger."[12]
Both Miranda Otto and Noah Taylor were commended for their performances, with Otto "providing some real menace" and Taylor "as the dissolute man of religion is both entertainingly shabby and possibly someone you’d best keep at a distance."[13]
The Sydney Morning Herald commended the show's directing, saying River "knows exactly when to cut to a striking wide shot, so these chaotic characters are suddenly framed by the desert’s vastness."[11] While The Guardian said, "River bolts out of the gates and maintains a rambunctiously entertaining tone until the very last scene."[12]
The show's use of music was also celebrated, with the soundtrack creating "bounce and jive". Buckmaster praised the show's use of Slim Dusty's "The Biggest Disappointment" as a reflection of the series' attitudes and themes.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Stan announces new Ludo Studio series Thou Shalt Not Steal for South Australia". South Australian Film Corporation. 30 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Frater, Patrick (13 September 2024). "Dylan River's Toronto Series 'Thou Shalt Not Steal' Explores Australia's Dark History With Humor: 'If You're Preaching to the Converted, How Are You Educating?' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
- ^ Maher, Dani (23 September 2024). "Dylan River, the auteur from Alice". Esquire.
- ^ a b c d Quinn, Karl (9 October 2024). "Miranda Otto, Noah Taylor, a stolen car and the Outback? It must be the '80s". Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ a b "Cast announced for Stan Original series Thou Shalt Not Steal". South Australian Film Corporation. 14 September 2023.
- ^ a b Dare, Laura (8 October 2024). "SA's screen scene is popping! Here's what to watch where". The Post. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Thou Shalt Not Steal". Toronto International Film Festival. 2024.
- ^ Swift, Brendan (12 October 2024). "Event wrap-up: 'Thou Shalt Not Steal' screening in Alice Springs". if.com.au.
- ^ a b Douglas, Nicole (2024). "Everything you need to know about the Stan Original Series Thou Shalt Not Steal as first-look trailer is released". nine.com.au. Nine Network.
- ^ "Dylan Rivers on directing Thou Shalt Not Steal". Awaye!. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d Mathieson, Craig (17 October 2024). "Wheels keep on turning as this local crime caper literally heads south". Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ a b c d e Buckmaster, Luke (17 October 2024). "Thou Shalt Not Steal review – this series has future classic written all over it". The Guardian.
- ^ a b c Morris, Anthony (15 October 2024). "Thou Shalt Not Steal, Stan review: an Australian crime romp gem". screenhub.com.au.