This month’s selection of documentaries examines how identity is formed and re-formed over time. A fallible former congressman makes a last-ditch attempt to gain office, three nuns assert their faith as the world around them changes, and ideas central to Australian mythology are deconstructed and rebuilt.
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Weiner
This account of Anthony Weiner’s bid to be mayor of New York City makes for riveting viewing. Directors Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg gather intimate footage as the disgraced former congressman and his wife, Huma Abedin, face crisis after crisis, and the campaign stumbles towards political scandal.
Constance on the Edge
Belinda Mason’s unflinching look at Constance Okot’s settlement in Wagga Wagga is a testament to the bond that can form between filmmaker and subject. For 10 years Mason’s all-female crew record the experiences of the vibrant Sudanese refugee and her family as they forge a life in Australia, and deal with the impact of past trauma.
How Far is Heaven
The Sisters of Compassion have lived in the remote village of Jerusalem on the Whanganui River in New Zealand for 120 years. At the time of filming, only three nuns remained – their legacy is coming to an end. This is a complex world of powerful dualities: Maori and Christian spirituality, parties and prayers, pig hunting and perfume appreciation.
Lasseter’s Bones
This documentary investigates one of Australia’s most enduring legends. In 1931, Harold Lasseter’s body was found in Central Australia, with a diary revealing that he’d discovered millions of dollars’ worth of gold. Filmmaker Luke Walker follows Lasseter’s son, who still searches the desert for something far more important than the gold alone.
Hannah Gadsby’s Oz
Comedian and art scholar Hannah Gadsby may be best known for her stand-up performances and work on TV, but she is never funnier or more incisive than when she is dismantling Australian identity. In this three-part series, Gadsby debunks the myths of white masculinity that have been privileged by Australian art.
