What to watch on Sky and free-to-air TV this week
A new nature series asks questions of our goal to be predator-free by 2050, and we get to see a couple of classic coming-of-age movies. Alex Behan reports.
A docu-series investigating the history, evolution and current condition of Aotearoa’s biodiversity, Fight For The Wild (Saturday, 7.35pm.
TVNZ1) looks to be compulsory viewing. Raising important questions about our predator-free 2050 goal and frequently using chilling words like extinction, this scientific examination of our unique whenua and taonga species features four episodes titled Loss, Defiance, Battle and Hope.
Before she breathed new life into director Greta Gerwig made a quirky, coming-of-age masterpiece called Lady Bird (Saturday,
10.30pm, Three). Both star serial Academy Awardnominee Saiorse Ronan, who absolutely nails the titular role here as a clever, confident, idealistic teenager, infuriated the world doesn’t work the way she thinks it should. Poignant and authentic, it’ll break your heart, but put it back together just right.
The very least the #BlackLivesMatter (Sunday, 7.30pm, Ma¯ ori TV) movement demands is that we listen. Fury and fear have driven this important conversation, harnessing direct protest and the power of social media to spread its message and demand change.
This American documentary features interviews with people living this reality day in, day out – and gives us that chance.
Sam Rockwell saves summer for 14-year-old Duncan in The Way Way Back (Friday, 8.30pm, Ma¯ ori TV). Duncan’s parents are preoccupied with themselves, the girl he likes doesn’t know he exists and he has to work at the stupid waterpark all holidays, but Rockwell steps in to change all that. It stars Steve Carell and Toni Collette.
Mama Africa (Monday, May 17, 8.30pm, Ma¯ ori TV) chronicles the incredible life of South African singer, actress and anti-apartheid activist Miriam Makeba.
Among other things, she was mentored early in her career by Harry Belafonte, recorded with Nina Simone, performed for John F Kennedy, toured Graceland with Paul Simon and died on stage suffering a heart attack immediately after singing her hit song Pata Pata at the age of 76.
We all love some Aussie scandal and nothing shouts scandal as loud as Secret Bridesmaids’ Business (streaming on TVNZ OnDemand from Friday). Three best friends find themselves in mortal danger when a stranger enters their world, testing loyalties and turning small lies into big cracks. Based on a successful play by Elizabeth Coleman, there was a previous film adaptation and this six-part thriller is set for an upcoming American remake.
Presented by Sonia Gray, Kai Safari (Saturday, 4pm, Choice) goes off the beaten track to hunt and gather and share. A 13-part series about living off the land, it traverses the remote and spectacular, visits out-of-the-way communities, camps out on beaches and showcases our unique connection between land, food and people.