Burke's Backyard of Horrors.

I'm sure by now all my Aussie readers (if I have any in general) now know about the sexual assault allegations facing Don Burke (for the rest of you, he's an Aussie gardening guru and former TV host of Burke's Backyard). From 1987 to 2004 he was the face of family-friendly viewing of Australian screens, but now his true nature seems finally to have been revealed. Along with calling one female colleague "a dumb slut," demoting another for defending her, driving a woman to a self-funded hotel suite and forcing her to sleep with him and general bullying and intimidation of male and female staff, it's also been reported he loved discussing and feeling plants' sex organs off-camera. It seems he doesn't just like fertilising things in the garden, huh?

That's reprehensible, but this story became personal to me when he quickly claimed to have such problems by invoking a self-diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome. I have myself and this is not for my image or that of any other autistic person (except him, if he is), but even I know that doesn't excuse his conduct (there have already been too many accusations for him to be innocent). Hell, considering autistic people in general, it doesn't even explain that. And rather than trying to blame it on an already stigmatised condition, he could've at least had a fucking professional diagnosis first. And most recently it's been reported that Kerry Packer, the late owner of Burke's former network Channel Nine, once told him to grow up. I rest my case. He can piss off back to his home among the gum trees and stay there.

Something Cult, Foreign-Language or Indie #64: DOUBLE FEATURE: Elstree 1976 (2015) / I Am Your Father (2016).

Star Wars is today a culture and a phenomenon unto itself. The movies are modern Hollywood touchstones, the Expanded Universe now includes literally hundreds of novels, SW memes and references infuse pop culture and the Net, and its merchandise covers everything from bed linen to car products. And many documentaries have now explored its origins and legacy.

One, from 2015, is Jon Spira's Elstree 1976. Focusing on numerous supporting stars of Episode IV and their experiences filming at London's Elstree Studios in '76 (where George Lucas and Steven Spielberg would later film the first three Indiana Jones films), Spira offers an empathetic treatment of these people whose acting careers sadly didn't quite take off even as the movie smashed box office records everywhere. It also proves to be a very clearsighted exploration of the creative and filmmaking process, and the result is unexpectedly emotional.

Then there's Toni Bestard and Marcos Cabota's 2016 effort I Am Your Father, which looks at the man inside Darth Vader's suit, David Prowse, and his troubled relationship with Lucasfilm. After several accusations of spoiling its predecessors in interviews, for Vader's climactic unmasking scene in Episode VI, Lucasfilm cast Sebastian Shaw over him. Bestard and Cabota's film sees them aiming to track him down to help them right that wrong Along the way we effectively learn how poorly Lucasfilm has treated him over the years, but we're not spared some of Prowse's contributions to the feud either.

Obviously, both these docos will appeal most to the most hardcore Star Wars fans like me (I have full Darth Vader and Chewbacca costumes at home, just for starters), but I promise: even if you're just a casual fan (or maybe even a Star Wars virgin), they'll strike a chord with you. May the Force be with them both. 

Something Cult, Foreign-Language or Indie #63: Shine (1996)

It was the flick from Down Under that arguably paved the way for Australia's Hollywood's invasion: the true story of celebrated but tormented concert pianist David Helfgott. Shine follows David from his first lessons as a child (Alex Rafalowicz) to his adolescent study and mental breakdown on the brink of fame (Noah Taylor) to his triumphant comeback in middle age (Geoffrey Rush) after living in an institution.

All this sounds like classic biopic stuff, but director Scott Hicks and writer Jan Sardi smartly take an observant and rather nonlinear approach to avoid sentiment, which works beautifully. Hicks also makes strong use of sound and visuals in the performance scenes, particularly teenage David's performance of Rachmaninov's notoriously difficult Piano Concerto No. 3 which is brilliantly edited and filmed (and during my Australian film university class it was shown countless times). Hicks had wanted to tell Helfgott's story for a decade, and he does it full justice.

But Shine just wouldn't have been the same without the incredible Geoffrey Rush. This performance made him the first Australian-born actor to win an Oscar (one of seven the movie was nominated for), and it remains his finest hour. He will leave you speechless. Armin Mueller-Stahl, as David's abusive father Peter, and Taylor offer solid support.

As the Brits might say: Shine does exactly what it says on the tin.

Spring in Zimbabwe.

As you must already know, this week has seen Robert Mugabe finally removed from power in Zimbabwe after 37 years. Like with the Arab Spring and the 1989 Eastern Bloc revolutions et al, people power has eventually triumphed. Since taking office in 1980, Mugabe's regime ran the gamut from economic inequality and sky-high inflation to internally corrupt governance and widespread, systemic human and civil rights violations. I'm sure thousands, maybe millions of Zimbabweans never thought they'd live to see Mugabe's downfall, but now they have.

However, now, of course, their nation needs rebuilding, like its reputation. And their incoming government must lead that charge, but regardless I've no doubt all those who openly fought to depose Mugabe will roll their sleeves up for that task, given the determination with which they pursued Mugabe's overthrowing. Nonetheless, it is up to Zimbabwe's incoming government to truly restore democracy and thus ensure their fight was not in vain.

Finally, I acknowledge the republic government system isn't perfect, despite my longstanding push for it here in Australia. Mugabe's such government is one of many which proves that. But it still means a people's head of state is one of their own, and Westminster-style governments have had blood galore on their own hands. Case in point: that of Hendrik Verwoerd, the mastermind of apartheid in South Africa.

Ten books that impacted me.

I'm a voracious reader; I have been since high school. My book collection therefore totals over 100 titles, but if I had to recommend just ten that have left the greatest impression on me, these would be them. In no order, besides alphabetical by author's surname:

This story of an English boy in apartheid-era South Africa who overcomes prejudice of his own as a boxing champion and also joins the blacks in their fight against the system, drawn from Courtenay's own life, is a deeply inspiring yet unabashedly angry and defiantly unsentimental coming-of-age story like no other. However, avoid the film adaptation at all costs.

The biggest-selling science fiction novel ever published, Herbert's 1965 epic began a long series and had a clear influence on many later literary and cinematic SF series, but even today makes a fresh, unique statement all by itself. But avoid the film adaptation of this one also.

Famously written on a scroll of teletype paper, this 1957 saga of sex, jazz and personal discovery across the Western US landscape became a cornerstone of Beat Generation culture and fully retains its original charm and resonance. Kerouac's narrative style, which he called "spontaneous prose," isn't for all tastes, but for a free spirit like me it provides an absolute rush.

Ms. Le Guin is probably my favourite writer. This 1974 stunner, part of her celebrated Hainish Cycle of novels, was her first work I read, and I was instantly obsessed. Incorporating themes of linguistic relativity, mind control, political and class warfare and gender and race relations it's definitely esoteric, but if esoteric SF is your thing, it will be catnip for you. It follows young physicist Shevek, who journeys from Anarres to its sister planet Urras to further his work and research, but instead becomes a pawn in a plot to overthrow its capitalist society.

I know, this is such a cliched inclusion. But even after all the acclaim and historic sales, it will have the same meaning and relevance a century from now, and its personal meaning for Lee is unmistakable throughout. It's a flawlessly written and plotted snapshot of a bygone era - and, sadly, also ours.

I first tried to read this in Year 10, but at 751 pages I couldn't finish it then due to time. But I tried again in university, and despite already knowing the resolution, even after such length I wanted more. Political autobiographies understandably get a bad wrap usually for several reasons, but Mandela tells his remarkable story with genuine charisma and eloquence, and you will be profoundly inspired. Reading this is like sitting with your long-lost grandfather beside a roaring fireplace as he offers you much-needed wisdom about life.

I know, yet another cliched inclusion. But as with To Kill a Mockingbird, this gem changed the world and will continue to change lives. Holden may be the most cynical protagonist in all of fiction, but he is all-too realistic, and as a Mary Sue he offers a very sharp insight into Salinger's background and mindset. No matter what (or who) it has inspired over the years, The Catcher in the Rye remains seminal and flawless - and it was published on my birthday (but not the same year, obviously)!

I understand why this remains so polarizing, even after the film trilogy was so popular. Tolkien was a very dense and perfectionistic writer; maybe even a pedantic one. But whether it's because I'm an autistic geek or not (and it took me nearly a year to finish the whole thing; I started it after seeing the movies, too), I was riveted the entire way. Underneath the fairly simple premise of the quest to destroy the One Ring, it's a timeless allegory for political and mental corruption, and a celebration of friendship, unity and romance. Love or loathe it, The Lord of the Rings is unshakable.

In 2010, Lt. Col. Mark M. Weber, after a distinguished career in the U.S. Army, was diagnosed with stage IV intestinal cancer and given two years to live. He subsequently chose to write some letters to his three young sons, to help them through life after he was gone. Those letters became this memoir. Now, I'm a pacifist who usually hates books consisting of letters, but suffice it to say, until I read this, no book had ever made me cry.

This saga of two post-WWII Australian families, the Lambs and the Pickleses, stoically surviving and growing over twenty years in a shared house called Cloudstreet, cemented Winton's career as a giant of Aussie fiction and made waves across the world. It evokes the era and culture with superb authenticity, and with how it proves there's much more to family than blood, no wonder it's become one of Australia's best-loved classics.