ACTF

1968: Sophia

A young girl stands with a playful smile, wearing a red knitted cardigan over a white collared shirt and grey checkered trousers. She has her hair tied back and wears classic black shoes.

Sofia is a spirited Australian girl of Greek heritage, who sees herself as a spy for the yayas (grandmothers). She’s determined to sabotage her brother Michaelis’s relationship with his non-Greek girlfriend before he leaves for Vietnam. Through mistranslation, mischief, and moments of reconciliation, Sofia’s story explores cultural identity, loyalty, and the emotional impact of conscription.

 

1960s Decade Overview

The 1960s were a time of questioning old norms and pushing for social change. Post-war migration and televised images of the Vietnam War reshaped civic identity, activism, and public opinion

  • 1962: First Nations peoples gained the right to vote in national elections
  • 1965: Charles Perkins led the Freedom Rides to expose segregation in regional Australia
  • 1966: Migration policy shifted to assess applicants by skills rather than race. President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit sparked both support and protest amid rising  Vietnam War tensions
  • 1967: Australians voted to include First Nations peoples in the census and transfer  Indigenous policy to federal government

First Nations Focus: Students can explore how voting rights, protest, and cultural leadership shaped identity and recognition during the 1960s.

Provocation Questions

How do misunderstandings shape relationships, and what does it take to truly understand someone?

Clip 1: Speaking the Language

Sofia and her friend Mareka are watching Professor Julius Sumner Miller's television science show, Why is it so? Janice arrives and meets Sofia's mother and grandmother. She needs Sofia to translate the conversation and Sofia deliberately tells each party the wrong translation.

Tuning In

Sofia mischievously mistranslates between her grandmother and her brother’s girlfriend, Janice. As a class, discuss the following questions:

  • Why does Sofia mistranslate the conversation?
  • What does this tell us about her feelings toward Janice?
  • How does language shape power and belonging in families?
Reflect on about how Sofia’s mistranslations create confusion. How do these misunderstandings affect the relationships of everyone in the room? Create a “Translation Tangle” visual map showing how words, tone and intention can be misunderstood by those in the room.

Finding Out & Sorting Out

Explore why misunderstandings happen and what they reveal about identity and loyalty.  In pairs, complete one of the following activities:

Option 1: Research why language is more than words. How do tone, gestures and cultural context change meaning?

Option 2: Make a list of reasons people might mistranslate or misinterpret messages. Which reasons apply to Sofia?

Option 3: Create a short comic strip showing how a misunderstanding can change a friendship.

Making Connections

Think about times when you have felt misunderstood or had to explain something clearly. What does it take to truly understand someone? Interdividually, write a journal entry or draw a picture in response to one of the prompts:

  • A time I felt misunderstood and what helped fix it…
  • A time I helped someone understand me better…

Clip 2: Conscription

Michaelis tells Sofia why he is going to the Vietnam War even though he doesn't want to go. They discuss what it may be like, and his fears are evident.

Tuning In

Think about how misunderstandings can change relationships. What does Sofia’s reaction tell us about loyalty and trust? As a class, discuss the following questions:
  • Why doesn’t Sofia want Michaelis to go?
  • How does this show her feelings about family and safety?
  • How might Michaelis feel about his choice?

Finding Out & Sorting Out

Dig deeper into why this moment matters. How do civic duty and personal safety create tension in families?

In pairs, complete one of the following activites:

Option 1: Investigate the 1960s conscription ballot. How did it work? What impact did it have on families and communities?

Option 2: Explore how war affects relationships and cultural expectations. Why might some people feel proud to serve while others feel afraid? How do these feelings shape family conversations?

Making Connections

Think about times when you have had to choose between what others expect and what feels safe or right for you. What does it take to truly understand someone’s choice? Write or draw a response to one of these prompts:

  • A time I felt torn between two choices…
  • A time I understood someone better after hearing their story…

Clip 3: The Goodbye

The family gathers to say goodbye to Michaelis as he leaves for national training. It is a time of reconciliation for Sofia and Janice.

Tuning In

In this clip, Sofia and Janice reconcile, showing emotional growth and acceptance. As a class, discuss the following questions:

  • What helped Sofia and Janice move past their misunderstanding?
  • How does this moment show emotional growth and acceptance?
  • What does it take to truly understand someone after conflict?

Finding Out & Sorting Out

Now dig deeper into how relationships recover after misunderstandings. In pairs, role-play a conversation between Sofia and Janice after the goodbye. Include apologies and what they learned about each other.

Next, create a short storyboard titled it “What I Learned About Understanding” and outline the steps from conflict to reconciliation.

Making Connections

Think about your own experiences of misunderstanding and conflict resoulation. What does it take to feel understood?

Choose one activity below and respond with writing or art:

  • Have I ever misjudged someone based on culture or language?
  • What helps me feel understood in my family or community?
  • How do stories help us repair relationships?

Australian Curriculum Links

Explore how civic activism, cultural heritage, and intergenerational wisdom shaped identity and belonging in 1960s Australia.

Year

Content Description

Inquiry Sprint Link

CCP Integration

Year 3

AC9HS3K01 Causes and effects of changes to the local community

Tuning In: Explore Sofia’s home life and cultural rituals

Investigate how migration reshaped daily life

Year 4

AC9HS4K01 Role of individuals, events and groups in shaping communities

Sorting Out: Compare Sofia’s family and Yaya’s influence

Explore cultural leadership across generations

Year 5

AC9HS5K02 Causes and effects of change in Australian society

Finding Out: Investigate conscription, protest, and multiculturalism

Examine changing views on war and identity

Year 6

AC9HS6K01 Democratic values and processes in Australia

Taking Action: Design protest posters and peace symbols

Link Sofia’s story to civic voice and emotional impact of war

 

Explore how language, loyalty, and emotional nuance shape character development and cultural understanding in 1960s Australia.

Year

Content Description

Inquiry Sprint Link

CCP Integration

Year 3

AC9E3LE01 Personal responses to texts and characters

Tuning In: Reflect on mistranslation and emotional loyalty

Explore how language shapes relationships

Year 4

AC9E4LY06 Create imaginative and persuasive texts

Going Further: Write from Sofia’s or Janice’s perspective

Promote empathy and reconciliation across cultures

Year 5

AC9E5LE01 Analyse character motivations and emotional depth

Sorting Out: Compare Sofia’s actions and emotional growth

Explore belonging and identity through narrative voice

Year 6

AC9E6LE01 Respond to texts shaped by historical and cultural contexts

Making Connections: Link Sofia’s story to broader cultural narratives

Connect storytelling to migration, war, and multiculturalism

 

Country/Place
Compare Sofia’s home rituals with First Nations relationships to Country


Culture
Explore bilingualism, storytelling, and cultural pride across communities


People
Highlight the role of Yaya and Elders in shaping values and emotional guidance

Asia and its Diversity
Use Sofia’s Greek-Australian identity to explore cultural contribution


Achievements and Contributions
Celebrate migrant communities in civic life and education


Asia–Australia Connections
Reflect on how migration and storytelling foster belonging

Additional Resources

Episode Stills

A group of four school children sits at wooden desks in a classroom, looking attentively toward the front. A large world map is displayed on the wall behind them, and their desks are scattered with notebooks and stationery. The children wear school uniforms, with two girls having their hair tied back with blue headbands.

Sofia and Mareka at school

A group of people stands on a street, gathered around a blue car with its hood up. A man in a cowboy hat is holding a young girl, while others observe, including a woman with a relaxed expression and a boy wearing glasses. The background features a bicycle and a decorative fence.

Michaelis leaving for Vietnam

A woman in a light blue cardigan is kneeling and presenting a small gold gift box to two smiling young girls. One girl, wearing a red sweater, appears excited, while the other, dressed in a green cardigan, looks intrigued. They are surrounded by lush greenery, suggesting an outdoor setting.

Janice giving Sofia a bird

A young girl in a black school uniform with a white shirt and blue ribbons stands with her arms crossed, next to a young man in a checked shirt and dark jeans, smiling. They are positioned against a plain white background.

Sofia and Michaelis

Five women of varying ages gather in a cozy living room, engaged in conversation over tea. The adults sit on a yellow couch while two young girls interact playfully on the floor, surrounded by patterned rugs and vintage decor, including a fireplace and photographs on the walls.

Janice meeting Michaelis's family

Two young girls sit on a thick tree branch, surrounded by lush green leaves. One girl wears a green cardigan over a patterned dress, while the other is dressed in a bright red sweater and jeans, both smiling as they enjoy their time up in the tree.

Sofia and Mareka in the Moreton Bay fig tree.

A blue and red taxi with a "TAXI" sign is parked on a street, while a diverse group of people, including men, women, and children, wave enthusiastically from the sidewalk in front of a two-story house. The scene captures a cheerful moment.

The taxi taking Michaelis away

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