THE YEAR OF THE FARMER

Rosalie Ham / Picador Australia

Times are tough on the land and the battle for meagre water resources is causing friction between the farmers, townies and ferals who make up this NSW rural community. Mitch Bishop is almost at the end of his rope, the family farm on its knees under the twin burdens of drought and debt. It doesn’t help that he’s married to the malicious Mandy, who is in a constant state of feud with most of her neighbours. When Mitch’s ex returns to reopen the pub, the fertiliser really hits the fan. This is a savage satire on small-town foibles by the author of The Dressmaker, who is playing this one – the serious matter of riparian rights aside – mostly for laughs.