Does “Dear Life” capture the essence of the ‘Rat? We watched the first episode to find out

Dear Life premiered on Stan in January, and the series created considerable buzz amongst locals, mostly because it’s set and filmed around Ballarat. 

📺 The Brolga sat down to check out the first episode, and see whether the show brings the regional hub to life on screen accurately. 

The premise: Dear Life follows Lillian, a woman navigating life after the devastating loss of her fiancé. She’s initially shown to be spiralling, but finds renewed purpose and healing by tracking down the recipients of her fiancé’s organs following his untimely death. 

🌊 How local?: Within 10 minutes, it’s clear this is a story centring Ballarat. 

• The opening shot of the series is Lake Wendouree, so it’s a safe assumption the producers already have Ballarat pegged, and the cult-like way life in the city gravitates to the banks of this watery landmark 

• Within 2 minutes, black swans are splashed across the screen as they cruise along the lake in the early morning. It’s a sight associated closely with the regional city, and the unofficial waterbird mascot. 

• Less than three minutes later, the series takes us to Sovereign Hill. 

It could be said we’re done here - there isn’t much more quintessential Ballarat than the lake, swans, and Sovereign Hill. The open-air museum acts as a time capsule for the first decade of life in Ballarat after the discovery of gold in 1851. 

The main character Lillian is even an employee - the kind required to don colonial dress and tour with schoolchildren. Mid-hangover, she even manages to correct someone calling the venue a theme park with the phrase “living museum”. It’s very Ballarat. 

🖼️The scenery: Toward the end of the first episode, the viewer is taken on a subtle tour of Ballarat highlights in a montage: 

• The heritage Regent cinema built in 1928, lights and all, brightened against an overcast sky 

• The historic Mining Exchange entry archway

• The beloved abandoned Blockbuster store on Mair Street, that has remained closed for years with the sign valiantly still standing. It’s a true relic now the space has been converted to a new Art Gallery of Ballarat location. 

• It’s a welcome sight to see Dear Life immortalised the store onscreen before the conversion. 

Dishonourable mention: Lillian lives above the Ballarat City Rowing Club. The still-currently-in-use-active-rowing club. It’s ludicrous.

However, it is understandable as the only way to have her character living on the lakefront without being in the 1%. 

The verdict: It’s definitely Ballarat, albeit polished and limited to the CBD. The steady stream of miner’s cottages, gloomy weather, and treasured, strange landmarks provide a believable depiction of the city. 

Especially due to scenes involving characters indoors with two jackets on, and still shivering. 

It doesn’t get much more Ballarat than that.