Foxtel highlights: Sunday, September 29

LORENZO’S OIL Fox Classics 113, 8.30pm

This classic drama, directed by Australian filmmaker George Miller (Mad Max) centres around parents Augusto (Nick Nolte) and Michaela Odone (Susan Sarandon, pictured with Nolte) whose son Lorenzo (Zack O’Malley Greenburg) has been diagnosed with a rare and fatal degenerative disease. Refusing to accept the death sentence the doctors have handed young Lorenzo, the Odones devote every ounce of their being to finding a breakthrough to battle the disease. This emotionally-draining masterpiece based on a real life story also stars the late great Sir Peter Ustinov, Margot Martindale

(The Americans), James Rebhorn (Homeland) and a very young Laura Linney (Ozark).

CRIMES THAT SHOOK BRITAIN: JAMES BULGER Crime + Investigation 609, 4.30pm

James Patrick Bulger (pictured) was born on March 16, 1990 in Kirkby, England. His parents Ralph and Denise previously lost a daughter who was stillborn, but thankfully James was the picture of health and understandably their little bundle of joy. On February 12, 1993, Ralph and Denise’s lives changed forever when James disappeared from a run-of-the-mill visit to their local shopping centre. What happened afterwards is just unspeakable. This one-hour documentary investigates the murder of James, the manhunt that ensued and how his killers were brought to justice. It’s also a story of a family ripped apart.

CRIMESTHAT SHOOK AUSTRALIA: MATTHEW MILAT Crime + Investigation 609, 6.30pm

On November, 20, 2010, David Auchterlonie (pictured) celebrated his 17th birthday. He had lunch with his mother Donna and dinner with his grandparents in the evening, before he went into town to celebrate his special day with his mates Cohen Klein, Chase Day and Matthew Milat. Unbeknownst to David, Matthew had a desire to follow in his infamous uncle Ivan’s footsteps – and that’s exactly what happened. Matthew ended up torturing David while he pleaded for his life – as Cohen filmed the horrific events on his mobile phone. This chilling one-hour documentary features interviews with David’s family, police officers and the psychologist who analysed Milat pre-trial.

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT Fox Classics 113, 10.45pm

Up for a perceptual challenge? There is absolutely nothing typical about Peter Weir’s groundbreaking mood piece about the mysterious disappearance of three school girls and their teacher during a Valentine’s Day outing in 1900. Little is explained in this incomplete celluloid jigsaw. It avoids genre pigeonholing through sheer end-point focus. Weir’s ‘cut’ is exactly that; the running time is seven minutes shorter than the original theatrical release. Once seen, never forgotten.

HE NAMED ME MALALA National Geographic 613, 7.30pm

On October 9, 2012, a Taliban gunman shot 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai as she rode home on a bus after taking an exam in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. Just before the incident, the masked gunman shouted to terrified schoolkids: “Which one of you is Malala? Speak up, otherwise I will shoot you all!” Malala (pictured) was targeted solely for speaking out on behalf of girls’ education and the incident understandably sparked international outrage. This documentary looks at the events leading up to the Taliban’s attack on the

Pakistani schoolgirl, and includes her incredibly moving speech at the

United Nations.