The Secret Life of Us [Region 2] - Region 2 DVD

The show takes a while to get going, introducing too many characters too quickly in disorientating fashion, but becomes engrossing entertainment filled with realistically young, aimless and confused, if not very likeable characters. Central to the show is Alex (Claudia Karvan, soon to become much more famous in Star Wars: Episode III) giving a strong performance as an emotional insecure doctor who sets things rolling by having a fling with her best friend's boyfriend. Samuel Johnson meanwhile is the highly sexed struggling novelist whose work in progress, the titular Secret Life of Us offers commentary on the ever more tangled web of romance, deception and friendship. It's Australian drama for those who have outgrown Melbourne's Neighbours.

On the DVD: The Secret Life of Us comes to DVD in an anamorphically enhanced 16:9 transfer which looks fine, showing just a little graininess in the darker scenes. The sound is Dolby Prologic and is more than adequate given the small-scale, intimate nature of the production. There are optional subtitles. --Gary S Dalkin