Each month, new films and TV shows are added to the ABC iview library. Travis Johnson presents his picks for titles worth watching.
Courtney Act’s One Plus One: Season 2 (June 2)
Courtney Act’s acclaimed talk show returns, with the glamorous drag queen Courtney interviewing various Australians on the broad subject of fame and how it affects them. Her first guest this season is Mark Trevorrow, who for almost 40 years has been skewering the concept of celebrity in the guise of his ever-grinning alter ego, Bob Downe. It’s sure to be illuminating and entertaining in equal measure.
Lucy Worsley Investigates (June 5)
This four-part series follows historian Lucy Worsley as she delves into some of the darker areas of British history, taking a more sociological view of events than you might have come across previously. From the brutal witch trials of the early modern era to the Black Death, the insanity of King George the III to the murder of the Princes in the Tower, Worsley brings to life some of the most notorious events of the past.
Bluey: Season 3: Part 2 (June 13)
Australia’s—and the world’s—favourite seven-year-old blue heeler returns at last, with 11 new episodes dropping daily on ABC Kids and ABC iview. Hark to the irresistibly charming adventures of Bluey, her little sister Bingo, mum Chili, and dad Bandit (it will never not be funny that Custard’s Dave McCormack provides the voice) as they navigate the travails and treasures of being a modern Australian family. Yes, it’s a kids’ show—but it’s one of the best ever.
More gold to stream
The Death and Life of Otto Bloom (2016)
The only feature by the late and much-missed Australian filmmaker Cris Jones sees Xavier Samuel as the titular character, a man who perceives time in reverse, remembering the future but unable to perceive his past. Told in a mockumentary style, the film is both a meditation on our relationship with time and a heartfelt love story, detailing Otto’s relationship with Ada, who is played by both Rachel Ward and her daughter, Matilda Brown.
Tommy (1975)
Controversial director Ken Russell (Women in Love, The Devils) brought The Who’s concept album to the screen in 1975, giving us the surreal tale of a deaf, dumb, blind kid (Roger Daltrey) whose skill at pinball elevates him to the position of religious figurehead. A veritable who’s-who of 70s rock crop up in this apocalyptic opera, including Tina Turner, Elton John, Eric Clapton, and Arthur Brown, with the likes of Ann-Margret and Oliver Reed in support. And, of course, the soundtrack is incredible.
