review for Children of the Revolution on AllMovie

Actor Peter Duncan's first film as a writer/director is a quirky satire that proceeds from a hilarious premise (Joseph Stalin died in the act of impregnating a young Australian communist) and carries off the consequences of that one-night stand with panache. Much credit should go to Judy Davis, whose ability to play intelligent but emotionally flawed women is unmatched among contemporary actresses. Her Joan Fraser is fanatically devoted both to the cause of communism (even as it is clearly fading from the world stage in her middle age) and the product of that liaison, Joe Welch. The tension between Joe and his mother, who realizes too late that she should have told him of his patrimony, is nicely played for both laughs and pathos. Sam Neill, as an agent shadowing Joan and Joe for 40 years, and Geoffrey Rush, as Joe's patient stepfather, are solid in support, but the film's real discovery is Rachel Griffiths. As a policewoman whose clashes with the youthful Joe at political demonstrations lead to a sexual relationship involving handcuffs, Griffiths comes on as a younger version of Davis, a promise that has been fulfilled in subsequent roles, especially that of Brenda in the HBO series Six Feet Under.