From a cursed vagina to a classic retold, there’s plenty of culture to dig into this weekend.
On streaming: Eternity
Streaming on Apple TV now.
Valentine’s Day is over but you still want to keep the love vibes going? Dive into Eternity, a high-concept rom-com with just a dash of Challengers threesome energy. After 65 wonderful years together, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) and Larry (Miles Teller) are in the “afterlife” (a kind of world expo) ready to pick their special place to spend eternity. Only problem is Joan’s teen love Luke (Callum Turner), who tragically died at war, is already there, waiting for 65 years so he can take Joan to their eternity. Who will Joan spend her forever with? What is Luke hiding? Are they all going to kiss? You’ll have to watch to find out.
– Velvet Winter
Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie in “Wuthering Heights”. (Supplied: Universal/Warner Bros)
At the cinema: “Wuthering Heights”
In cinemas nationally
“This isn’t Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights”, scream the reviews. Well, duh. If anyone enters the cinema this weekend expecting a faithful re-enactment of the 18th century gothic masterpiece, they’re missing the point. Emerald Fennell’s fever dream of an adaptation is crass, classless, horny and a more than a little bit deranged — but boy is it a fun ride. See it at the cinema and lean into the crazy. Read our full review here.
– Leigh Tonkin
Some of Australia’s favourite actors got their start on The Secret Life of Us. (Supplied: ABC iview)
Classic TV show: The Secret Life of Us
What happens when you take the beloved formula of US sitcom Friends, and transplant the group of gorgeous young things from a New York City cafe to a grubby St Kilda beach? Why, you get The Secret Life of Us, of course. The four seasons of this iconic Australian show introduced us to a group of twenty-somethings, all living in the same apartment block, struggling with the growing pains of becoming adults. But this is a grittier version of the US show: there’s sex, drugs, dreams and betrayal. With sultry voiceovers from the original soft boi Samuel Johnson, the show faces taboo topics like abortion, racism and sexual assault. There’s stunning early 2000s fashion — tiny phones and silk tops abound — and surprising emotional heft. It’s also a delight to see the baby faces of beloved actors like Claudia Karvan, Deborah Mailman and Joel Edgerton, showing just why they all went on to so much more.
— Katherine Smyrk
(Supplied: EMI)
Album: Meg Mac — It’s My Party
Out today through EMI
For once, Meg Mac doesn’t feel in control, and she’s embracing it. Abandoning early plans for an austere, “witchy” record, she leans instead into a brighter, pop‑forward sound. Even as these songs sparkle more than before, every ache and hesitation still cuts through in her sharp, gripping lyrics. She reflects on the road she’s taken so far, sometimes scolding her past self, sometimes extending grace, all with a clarity that feels more candid than her earlier work. It’s a testament to her growth as a writer, and her newfound willingness to let a little fun in. The record’s bookends are especially strong: He Said No is immaculate mature pop, and the title track somehow lands miles from Lesley Gore. In between, she delivers songs that are honest, brave, deeply relatable and pretty damn catchy.
– Dan Condon
My Cursed Vagina is a refreshingly frank memoir by theatre, film and television writer Lally Katz. (Supplied: Allen & Unwin)
Book: My Cursed Vagina by Lally Katz
Published by Allen & Unwin on February 3.
“Your vagina is cursed,” a psychic tells Australian playwright Lally Katz in New York in 2011. While she’s clearly a scam artist, her declaration is proved true again and again over the ensuing decade as Katz travels between Australia and the US, where she was born, touring her work and dating questionable men. There’s a twisted ovary, a rash that turns out to be herpes and two miscarriages recounted in distressing detail. Katz has made a career out of writing about her personal life in plays such as Stories I Want to Tell You in Person (2013), which was adapted into a two-part series for ABC TV, and her first book, My Cursed Vagina, is no different. Katz’s quirky wit and searing honesty make her memoir a laugh-out-loud read. It’s a story about growing up, making choices and living with the consequences — even if they are, unfortunately, an STI.
— Nicola Heath
Play School’s new opening titles are a delightful precursor to the main attraction: Humpty’s Big Book of Nursery Rhymes. (Supplied: ABC)
For the kids: Play School: Humpty’s Big Book of Nursery Rhymes
Come for the stories, stay for the remixed nursery rhymes and home interior inspo. For the first time since 2013, the Play School opening titles have had a refresh and they’re a drawcard in themselves. Jemima, Little Ted and the crew have some fancy new digs to call home in the stop-motion opener that balances nostalgia with a healthy dose of hygge and home decoration. But the main attraction in Humpty’s Big Book of Nursery Rhymes is indeed Humpty and friends who explore childhood classics like B-I-N-G-O (recast as B-U-S-T-E-R, bro) and Row Your Boat through song, crafts and stories. Sixty years of Play School and they’re still showing us the endless possibilities for creation with a rubber glove, a toilet roll and an active imagination.Â
This is a minimal effort, maximum taste kind of dish, perfect when zucchinis are in season. (ABC News: Zain Ayub)
Whether you want a quick tasty meal or an impressive side dish for a BBQ or gathering, this dish from Ismat Awan will fit the brief. Zucchini is the star, as it should be in peak season when it is abundant and inexpensive. Paired with a few pantry and fridge staples — canned corn and pumpkin seeds crisped up in a pan, and feta whipped with yoghurt into a creamy base — it creates a lovely mix of texture and a satisfying balance of sweet, salty and tanginess. If you’re game (and I recommend you be) drizzle on some hot honey before serving.
– Jo Joyce