IMDb 6 1986 HD

Short Changed

Short Changed

1986
99 min NR USA
5 / 10
6 IMDB

Described as "an Aboriginal Kramer vs Kramer," this is the moving account of an Aboriginal political activist fighting his white ex-wife for joint custody of their son.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director George Ogilvie
Starring
David Kennedy / Susan Leith / Jamie Agius / Ray Meagher / Mark Little

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

poignant dramatic heartfelt compelling sensitive emotional challenging moving raw authentic powerful resonant

Reviews

C
Chloe Davies
May 20, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

'Short Changed' offers a moving glimpse into the complexities of family law and cultural identity in Australia. The film’s central conflict, a custody battle between an Aboriginal activist and his white ex-wife, is handled with a commendable degree…

L
Liam O'Connell
May 20, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

An absolute gem of Australian filmmaking, 'Short Changed' delivers a powerful and emotionally resonant story of a father's fight for his son. The comparison to 'Kramer vs Kramer' is apt, but the film transcends mere imitation by grounding…

S
Sophia Bellwether
May 20, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The 1986 film 'Short Changed' attempts a sensitive portrayal of a custody battle, drawing parallels to 'Kramer vs Kramer' but with an Aboriginal protagonist. The performances by David Kennedy and Susan Leith are central to its success, conveying…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 20, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Short Changed' emerges as a significant piece of Australian cinema, tackling the universal theme of parental custody with a potent cultural specificity. The film's premise, focusing on an Aboriginal political activist fighting for his son, is inherently compelling.…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 20, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This 1986 Australian drama, 'Short Changed', presents a familiar narrative framework – a custody dispute – but imbues it with a vital, specific cultural context. It's described as an 'Aboriginal Kramer vs Kramer', and while that comparison highlights…

FAQs

Its distinctiveness lies in its specific cultural framing. By presenting a custody battle through the eyes of an Aboriginal political activist, 'Short Changed' offers a perspective rarely centred in mainstream dramas of the 1980s. This unique viewpoint, combined with its emotional core, sets it apart as a film exploring universal themes of family and belonging with a significant Australian Indigenous dimension.