In Sarah Fergusons pursuit of the truth in The Killing Season, responders gain insight of the

complex human relations and individuals involved in the political sphere.

The Killing Season is a documentary about the political turmoil within the Australian Labor
Party during the Rudd and Gillard years of 2006-2013.
Initially, Rudd and his loyal deputy Gillard were portrayed as the dynamic duo /
inseparable couple, and their initial capability and productivity as a pair is revealed by the
narrator: As the GFC continued to deepen, 32 of the worlds developed nations fell into
recession, yet the Australian economy grew. This highlights the achievements that come
from political co-operation.
However, Gillard expresses in an interview that in terms of the big things in government, he
(Rudd) was incapable and his demeanour behind closed doors was absolutely miserable,
irritated.
This view is juxtaposed by Jenny Macklin: It was not something that I personally felt as I
had a productive relation with Kevin, and throughout the documentary, editing ensured that
Gillards negative testimonies on Rudd or his government were constantly contradicted. This
leads the audience to question Gillards motives for challenging leadership and whether it
was as noble and justified as she claims.
The 24th June 2010 marked the end of their partnership when Gillard challenged Rudds
leadership and won uncontested.
Close-ups of Rudds teary face, his cracking and weakening voice as he made his final
speech as Prime Minister highlight that he is just a simple man with real emotions and draws
sympathy from the audience of the betrayal.
The constant conflict between Rudd and Gillard causes the breakdown of the ALP and is of
particular interest as we live in Audens democratic Tomorrow, yet it still a struggle where
different factions of a once united entity fight for the control of the country.
The film ends with an interview with Alan Milburn: The hard question that the Australian
Labor Party has to ask itself is this; How is it possible that you win an election in November
2007 on the scale that you do...
An intermediary cut to a smiling Rudd in 2007, thanking Gillard and a smiling Gillard praising
Rudd to the cheer of the crowd, reinstates Fergusons view of the need for mutual
understanding and cooperation in government.
Milburn continues: And you manage to lose all that goodwill...And to find yourself out of
office within just 6 years... No one can escape blame for that in my view, with the solemn
background music symbolising the tragic outcome of their lost potential.
In her representation of people in the political sphere, Ferguson explores the complexity of
humans and their social relations.