As we ease into August, it feels like the perfect time to share a few standout entertainment picks that have recently caught my eye — from thought-provoking dramas to nostalgic adaptations and light-hearted mysteries, here are a few things I’ve been watching (and loving).
Filmed in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW around Robertson, Burrawang and Bundanoon The Appleton Ladies Potato Race tells the story of a local woman who returns to her hometown and finds that the ladies’ race prize money is only 10% of the men’s race prize money and sets about changing that. Not as easy as you might expect, as the small country town is a bit precious and change resistant when it comes to their traditions and the family dynamic and realities of real people overlay the bigger picture. Based on the play of the same name, both the film and the play were written by Melanie Tait and inspired by real events in the town of Robertson, famous for the big potato and the potato festival that sadly has taken an indefinite break since 2024.
The setting is picturesque and the stunning rolling green and amazing sunsets in the highlands are showcased by Director Lynn Hegarty. Clare Van der Boom plays Dr Penny Anderson and her sister, and reigning potato race queen, Nikki is played by Katie Wall. Robin Nevin is delicious as Joan and watch for a wonderful John Gaden as the wise mentor and former town doctor. In case you are not familiar with potato racing it involves carrying a heavy sack of potatoes across your shoulders while running in a race. The Appleton Ladies Potato Race first screened on television in 2023 but I watched it recently on Netflix. It’s a charming, compassionate, honest and worth watching.
All six seasons of Margaret Attwood’s Handmaid’s Tale have aired and no doubt fans will have already enjoyed the finale and may or may not have been satisfied with the outcomes and resolution. I read the book back in the 80s and remember the impact it had on me and have been an Attwood fan ever since. The show remained true to the story with Attwood having lots of input.
The plot is that following a second American Civil War a theonomic society subjects fertile women to slavery as child bearers, or “handmaids”.
Handmaids are assigned to the elite ruling class and subjected to ritualistic rape by their Commander owners and their wives in the hope of a pregnancy and a child in a world where fertility rates have fallen. June Osborne, played by Elizabeth Moss who also directed some episodes in later seasons, is one of the handmaidens. It a series that is best watched consecutively requiring some commitment but it’s a very worthwhile journey. I admit to being a little frustrated when June had chances to escape but chose to return each time mainly because her daughter Hannah remained in Gilead.
There are some wonderful performances with characters becoming familiar given the period of time since the first season aired 2017 and the final in 2025. Bradley Whitford as Commander Lawrence (the penultimate episode will have you in tears), Josepeh Fiennes, Max Minghella and Yvonne Strahovski join Moss as key characters. Some fans were not impressed with the final season resolution as while Moss was quoted as saying that season 6 was for the fans, those that had stuck with them, some felt some ends were not what they wanted. For me, The Handmaid’s Tale is one of the most captivating television series ever made and if you haven’t discovered it yet, look for it.
The White House, a state dinner for the Australian PM and a murder in the 137 rooms of the residence at the White House. I only watched the first two episodes which has some laugh out loud moments with the very quirky Det. Cordelia Cupp. It reminded me of Only Murders in the Building so if you enjoyed that you should have a look for The Residence too. Kylie Minogue makes a guest appearance as herself.
Did you grow up with Enid Blyton books? The Secret Seven, The Famous Five and of course the Magic Faraway Tree are very much part of my happiest earliest memories so I’m looking forward to the upcoming adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree as filming has officially wrapped recently.
Directed by Ben Gregor and written by Simon Farnaby who wrote Wonka and Paddington 2 it has a star-studded cast including Jessica Dunning as Dame Washalot, Nicola Coughlan as Silky the Fairy. Jennifer Suanders is Grandma Thompson and is joined by Michale Palin, Lenny Henry and Dustin Demri-Burns.
The film follows the Thompson family who move to the country where the three children find a magical tree filled with amazing adventures and characters. This film modernises the 1943 original setting it in more current time. I’ll be watching this just as soon as I can.
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