Watch Stateless

Stateless is a six-part Australian television drama series that aired on ABC in 2020. The show is a collaboration between actors Yvonne Strahovski, Jai Courtney, and Asher Keddie along with co-creators Tony Ayres and Cate Blanchett. Stateless tells an immersive and emotional tale that centers around the lives of several individuals who have found themselves mired in Australia's complex immigration system.

The series follows four different people as their paths intersect at an immigration detention center in the middle of nowhere in the Australian Outback. The central character is Sofie Werner (Yvonne Strahovski), an airline hostess who has fled from her traumatic past and mistakes which led her to become stateless. An Afghani family seeking asylum, whose patriarch (Fayssal Bazzi) is a doctor and whose wife, Mina (Soraya Heidari), and two young children are dependent upon him, also find themselves in the center. Cam Sandford, (Jai Courtney) is a young man whose promotion is the result of an advertising campaign aimed at increasing recruitment of staff to help run the center. Finally, Sophie's sister Margot (Asher Keddie), who is seeking some sort of personal redemption, enters the center as a welfare worker.

As the series progresses, viewers are taken on a journey that explores the lives of all four individuals, as well as the lives of the detainees they are in charge of. It delves into the bureaucratic maze of the country's immigration system, and the ways in which it is flawed and unethical. The show highlights the damaging effects of holding people in detention for extended periods of time, often resulting in individuals becoming institutionalized and losing touch with the outside world. The portrayal of the staff's resentment towards detainees and their tendency to mistreat them leads to a rather uncomfortable situation. The series also depicts the incredibly difficult circumstances that many of the detainees have found themselves in, including fleeing war-torn countries or persecution for their sexual orientation or political beliefs.

Aside from immigration, the show also tackles the many social and personal issues that individuals face in their daily lives. Issues like guilt, trauma, and the underlying societal and family conflicts; all play a significant role in the lives of the characters.

The acting in this series is laudable, particularly the performances by starring characters Yvonne Strahovski and Jai Courtney. Strahovski is particularly moving in her portrayal of Sofie Werner, a woman who has experienced unimaginable trauma in her life. Courtney is equally impressive as Cam, a man who grapples with his morals and principles amidst the oppressive and restrictive atmosphere of the detention center. His performance gives viewers a glimpse of the inner workings of the detention facility from an entirely different angle.

The cinematography of the series is also outstanding. The sparsely decorated and bleak sets of the detention center perfectly reflect the oppressive atmosphere and desperation of those detained there. The Australian Outback and its stunning scenery are also beautifully captured in the series, serving as a stark contrast to the confinement that the characters experience.

Overall, Stateless is a harrowing and gut-wrenching drama that sheds light on the complexity of the country's immigration system, as well as the human cost that it brings to those involved. With a great cast, exceptional acting, and stunning cinematography, the show is a true work of art. It is a thought-provoking series that leaves viewers with the bitter realization of the living conditions of detainees in the Australian detention centers. It is a show that is best watched with an open mind, an open heart, and a readiness to confront the realities of modern society.

Stateless is a series that ran for 1 seasons (6 episodes) between March 1, 2020 and on ABC (AU)