Dangerous Remedy
dir. Ken Cameron (ABC, 2012)
A disquieting if murky ‘based on’ historical drama centred around Australian abortion laws and police corruption in the late 1960s. Medical campaigner Dr Bertram Wainer (Jeremy Sims) acts almost as an antihero, evincing bullying manipulation in single-minded pursuit of a just cause.
Sinister Stones (reissued as Cake in the Hat Box)
by Arthur W. Upfield (Doubleday, 1954)
audiobook read by Peter Hosking (Bolinda, 2018)
Though the murder investigation is somewhat nebulous, the story remains notable for the extreme remoteness of its Western Australian setting, and for its historical depiction of cattle station life—and particularly the relationships between Aboriginal and white folk—in the mid-20th Century.
Holidays
by William McInnes (Hachette, 2014)
audiobook read by William McInnes (Hachette, 2015)
McInnes reminisces about holidaying mishaps from his childhood and adult life (and those of people he has known). With the growing wisdom of experience, he draws wider, often subtle, gentle and empathic conclusions about Australian culture, family and what makes us happy.
Harry Seidler: Modernist
dir. Daryl Dellora (2017)
An hour-long documentary charting the career of architect Harry Seidler, whose modernist designs, though meeting with resistance from local governments, ultimately transformed Australia’s housing and highrise landscapes. Seidler, work-focussed and egotistic, emerges as a passionate, innovative, uncompromising advocate of modernist design principles.
Gravity is the Thing
by Jaclyn Moriarty (Harper, 2019); audiobook read by Aimee Horne (W. F. Howes, 2019)
For much of the book, Moriarty treads a fine, facetious line between quirky characterisation and utterly banal, cod-observational wisdom. This, it turns out, is artfully used both to obscure and to foreshadow plot shifts. Kudos for incorporating a single mother/young child relationship.
Worse Things Happen at Sea
Tales of Life, Love, Family and the Everyday Beauty in Between
by William McInnes & Sarah Watt (Hachette, 2011)
audiobook read by Clem Fechner (QNS Audio, 2014)
Entwined memoirs with a cumulative focus on family, mortality, embracing life and coping with death. McInnes reaches his conclusions through rambling associative leaps, Watt by more direct reflection. Fechner’s audiobook reading captures the sometimes humorous, always heartfelt tone (but not female voices).
Upright, Season Two
dir. Mirrah Foulkes (Fox Showcase, 2022)
A large and inevitable stepdown from Season One, more consciously offbeat in its performances and plot-twists yet still well capable of throwing laugh-out-loud punches. Alcock and Minchin jump headfirst back into their characters. The emotional arc is drawn freehand, wonky on painkillers.
Blackwattle Creek
by Geoffrey McGeachin (Viking, 2012)
audiobook read by Peter Hosking (Bolinda, 2012)
Plot-wise the second Charlie Berlin novel seems less involved than the first. It remains, however, a consummate portrait of person and place. A very Australian detective story that could just about be classified as feelgood nostalgia (were its underbelly not so dark).
Upright
dir. Matthew Saville (Sky Atlantic, 2019)
A perfect series to represent Australia. Stunning outback cinematography. Bravura performances by Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock. Beyond the entwined character studies, the scripting and delivery ensure a cavalcade of laugh-out-loud moments that keeps on rolling even when the going gets serious.
Death at Victoria Dock
by Kerry Greenwood (Poisoned Pen Press, 1992)
audiobook read by Stephanie Daniel (ABC, 2011)
Stephanie Daniel’s audiobook reading lends vivid personality to all the characters; Greenwood’s depiction of interbellum Melbourne society suggests considerable research; yet Phryne herself has become more goddess than investigator. She is adored and feared to the extent of encountering too little resistance.