The must see small screen offerings to enjoy this July

Here we are into the second half of the year already and it is prime viewing season. I do have to go outside to get on with life’s essentials, to watch grandchildren’s sport and prevent the garden becoming a jungle but I think a winter semi hibernation sounds a lovely plan. Hot chocolate, snacks and some good watches are a critical.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

I read Heather Morris’s book a few years ago and wasn’t surprised to see that it was being translated for the screen. Six episodes directed by Tali Shalom- Ezer follow the story of Lale Sokolov during World War II. Lale was the tattooist at Auschwitz and held a relatively privileged position in the camp. The story is not just his, but Gita’s as well – the woman he met and fell in love with in the concentration camp and who, incredibly, he found after the war and married. As he neared the end of his life Lale wanted to share this story and he and Heather Morris worked together for four years recording his story.

It is a mammoth production with a huge cast and crew with other stories woven through Lale’ and Gita’s. As you would expect, given the subject matter and the setting, it can be harrowing with some horrific moments but there are some rare moments of humanity and beauty as well. Luck and fragility of life in the Auschwitz camp are captured and a story that should never be forgotten is shared sensitively. Three tissue box warning. I watch the Tattooist of Auschwitz on Stan. I was to visit Auschwitz during a planned European holiday but Covid changed those plans. I did do a virtual tour which helped gain a perspective of the size of the camp and the atrocities that occurred there. There are a range of on-line tours available offered by different groups.

Shelved and The Librarians

Shelved is a Canadian series based in a library in Jamestown an area of a large city that serves a low socio-economic demographic and where the quirky but well-meaning staff have to battle for the simple things that the wealthier branches in their group take for granted. Shelved tackles many of the current issues in “library land” from banned books and homeless patrons using the showers to drag queens reading stories, with some success but the characters lack the warmth and comedic charm of the similar Australian series The Librarians but is a fun and easy to watch season.

The Librarians had 3 seasons from 2007 to 2010 and was created by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Butler also starred as Frances the Chief librarian who had to manage her panic disorder as well as the Middleton Interactive Learning Centre. When her ex-best friend appears and is employed as Children’s Librarian things start unravelling, it’s witty and clever and I adored the opening of the returns shute each episode to see what was there. I’m not sure whether it is screening anywhere at the moment but you might be lucky enough to track down the series on video. Shelved on Netflix follows a similar story line and if I had seen every episode of the much stronger and funnier Australian version I might have been more enamoured of it. Netflix needs to find Wayne Hope and Robyn Butler and buy the funnier Australian version soon.

Eddie the Eagle

Remember the Winter Olympics in 1988 when an English competitor not only became the first competitor to represent Great Britain in ski jumping but also captured the hearts and minds of an international audience as Eddie the Eagle? I watched the 2016 movie on Disney recently and it is an enjoyable watch with Taron Egerton playing Eddie and Hugh Jackman playing his coach Bronson Peary. Christopher Walken appears as Peary’s mentor. It was a huge success and the highest-grossing British film released that year. It follows Eddie from childhood and his dream that he clings too despite all the odds. Whilst it’s not a new movie, it’s a timeless story of self belief, overcoming obstacles and how life can be not about winning but having a crack!