Square Eyes

Television Reviews

Movie of the week, Children of the Marshland, SBS, Sun, 9.30pm

This nostalgic French charmer, set in the countryside during a delicious 1930s summer, gently meanders through the lives and loves of a drifter who befriends the kids of a lazy drunk. It's full of gentle homilies about a good heart being worth more than money and how happiness is found within.

Concert for George, ABC, Fri, 8.30pm

A ripper tribute to George Harrison, which brings his old Beatle mates, Paul and Ringo, back together to perform for the first time in more than 30 years. Tom Petty, Eric Clapton and Harrison's son Dhani are among those playing George's songs. The Monty Python team, and even Tom Hanks, also do their bit.

Doctor Zhivago, NBN, Sun, 8.30pm

A remake of David Lean's mawkish '65 classic (which screens Prime, Fri, noon). Bend it Like Beckham's Keira Knightley is Julie Christie's Lara (and Sam Neill wanders through). Boris Pasternak's epic tale of star-crossed love during the Russian Revolution is surprisingly good in this British TV mini-series.

My Mother Frank, Ten, Sun, 8.30pm

An enjoyable Australian comedy about a middle-aged woman (Sinead Cusack as the fiesty Frank) heads off to university, much to the consternation of her kids (Sacha Horler and Matthew Newton), where she buts head with a chauvinistic lecturer (Sam Neill).

Carries War, ABC, Sun, 8.30pm

This heart-warming, coming-of-age drama, based on Nina Bawden's international bestseller, is an engaging, beautiful fairy tale. Set during the Blitz, two kids are sent to the country to live and their adventures lead to a lifetime of guilt about the damage childhood innocence may have wrought.

The Slim Dusty Story, ABC, Sun, 8pm

A musical tribute to the life of the Kempsey farm boy who changed the face of country music. Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley and Graeme Connors are among those paying their respects.

The Mascot, ABC, Weds, 9.30pm

This is an incredibly moving and powerful documentary about an elderly Australian, Alex Kurzem, who, through a dark twist, survived WWII. The Nazi death squads killed his Jewish family, but Alex, then 5, was saved and turned into an 'Aryan mascot', living with a new name and past as a young Nazi. He came to Australia in 49 and led a secret life for 50 years. Now he's revealed the truth to his family and set about exploring his roots, beset by official and personal obstacles.

Astroboy, ABC, Thurs, 5.25pm

This atomic powered robot lad - Superman meets the Jetsons - was one of the original Japanese anime cartoons. Now 40-years-old, he's back with 25 new episodes. Hopefully, he'll go sort out Iraq.