Judy & Punch (ATOM Study Guide)

It’s the mid seventeenth century in a tiny town called Seaside (incidentally, nowhere near the sea). Worn out and ruined by poverty and neglect, the lives of Seaside’s town folk have spiralled into violence, mob rule and Godfearing hysteria. Among the chaos, one glimmer of artistry remains: Punch and Judy’s marionette puppet theatre.

While the townspeople revel in the drama and brutality of trials and executions, the charismatic Punch (Damon Herriman) and his prodigiously talented puppeteering wife Judy (Mia Wasikowska) endeavour to use their show to escape with their new baby to loftier means – a sentiment that is pushed by Punch and accepted by Judy. Judy is clearly the superior puppeteer and possesses the skill and dexterity of a great artist, but it is Punch who owns the limelight. A loveable narcissist with a dangerous penchant for the bottle, his ambition and egomania are the antithesis of Judy’s gentle, practical nature.

Punch and Judy’s first marionette show back from a hiatus is a triumph but Punch, spurred on by the show’s success and the brutal celebration of witch stoning day, succumbs to Seaside’s temptations and the local McDrinky’s tavern. Fuelled by ale and adulation, he is caught out by Judy in the tavern, heavily drinking and in the company of his apparent mistress, Polly (Lucy Velik).

The next day, a slapstick chain of events comes to a tragic end while Punch continues his drinking binge. Hell bent on vengeance and retribution, darkness descends over Judy, who must right the wrongs of Punch and the entire town of Seaside in an act of vengeance befitting her true nature.

Curriculum Links

From seemingly innocuous Little Red Riding Hood and whacky Looney Tunes cartoons, to Game of Thrones and Grand Theft Auto, we live in a world that reverberates with violence. Frequently, the violence is perpetrated against women, and a female victim is almost universally saved or avenged by a man. Judy and Punch offers an opportunity to explore questions such as the extent to which popular culture influences and reflects societal attitudes towards violence, how men and women are represented in fiction, and whether there is any virtue in violence at all. 

Judy & Punch is recommended for senior secondary school students. It is relevant to the teaching of:

• English
• Media Arts
• Curriculum projects which explore the roles of women.

It can be used as a resource to address the Australian Curriculum General Capability – Ethical Understanding, given the opportunities it provides for students to reflect on the nature of law and order, equality, justice and revenge. The film’s unique, make-believe world make it suitable as a supplementary text in the teaching of Materials Design and Technology, Visual Art and Drama to promote discussion about period and dramatic costumes, puppetry, prop and set design.

In the context of senior English, the film can be used to develop a range of skills and concepts to help students appreciate the stylistic qualities and conventions of imaginative fiction texts, and how these features influence meaning and shape audience responses. 

Please note: Teachers should watch this film before deciding to show it to students. It contains some coarse language and violence, including domestic violence, which may raise issues among students, so sensitive pre-viewing discussions may be necessary.