Australian drama series Stateless landed on Netflix earlier this month and fans have described it as "harrowing" watch. The six-part drama, starring Yvonne Strahovski, Cate Blanchett and Dominic West, tells the story of four strangers at an immigration detention centre. And it seems the storyline and themes of the programme had an emotional effect on viewers.
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© Photo: NetflixStateless landed on Netflix earlier this month
Taking to social media, many fans expressed their views on the show – with many left "heartbroken" after watching all six-episodes. One person wrote: "Just finished Stateless on netflix and my heart is broken." While another wrote, "Gutted humans are treated like that. Very sad and very moving."
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WATCH: Netflix Stateless - official trailer
Many more wrote their reviews of the series, which originally aired in ABC, on Twitter and couldn't help but compare the show to similar true to life situations. "Just watched the first 2 episodes of Stateless on Netflix and it's a pretty hard watch. It would be wrong to say I'm enjoying it but it is pretty gripping / heart wrenching stuff. I'd recommend it if you can stomach some bleak realities." Another person Tweeted: "Just finished #StatelessNetflix It's extremely harrowing and emotionally draining but a great series with superb performances. The fact it's based on true events will really leave you thinking about our own approach to refugees and asylum seekers."
© Photo: NetflixThe series has left viewers 'heartbroken'
The official synopsis for the programme reads: "Stateless is a powerful and timely series about four strangers whose lives collide at an immigration detention centre in the middle of the Australian desert: an airline hostess on the run from a dangerous cult, an Afghan refugee and his family fleeing persecution, a young father escaping a dead-end job and a bureaucrat running out of time to contain a national scandal."
© Photo: NetflixCate Blanchett also stars in the series
For viewers the show was even more poignant knowing it is based on a true story. The series is based on an incident that occurred 15 years ago involving a woman named Cornelia Rau, a German-born citizen and Australian permanent resident. After being admitted to hospital for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, she discharged herself and went on the run.
Soon she was discovered by officials, but Cornelia refused to reveal her true identity to police and immigration officials, which result in her being put in prison for six months. Afterwards, she was then transferred to a detention centre as a suspected illegal immigrant where she spent four months until her discovery by family and friends before being returned to hospital.
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