Three sisters, Cressy, Nona, and Mae, who have not seen each other for a long time, are brought together after their mother dies, to arrange her funeral.

Rachel Perkins became aware of the play when she saw Trisha Morton-Thomas perform Mae's beach monologue as a part of the Eora College end-of-year student showcase.

[4] Perkins said later that it took a long time to cast the main characters, who included Deb Mailman, then a newcomer from Brisbane, and that they rehearsed for six weeks before filming began.

[3] Louis Nowra wrote the script, Ned Lander produced the film, and the cinematographer was Warwick Thornton.

[4] Radiance was filmed at Agnes Water, Rosedale, Childers, Bundaberg, and Hervey Bay in Queensland, and in Sydney.