H is for Happiness (2019), directed by John Sheedy

Candice Phee is a super smart but slightly naïve 12-year-old who maintains a sunny outlook on life despite her dysfunctional family. Her mother is severely depressed following the cot death of Candice’s baby sister. Her dad is permanently on the computer and doesn’t speak to his brother, Rich Uncle Brian, following a business quarrel. Candice is determined to fix her broken family, aided by her new friend – Douglas Benson from another dimension – and a horse. This absurdist tale dips into cartoon territory, without ever going over the top. Daisy Axon perfectly portrays the precocious, but appealing, Candice. She is ably supported by a terrific cast, including Richard Roxburgh, Deborah Mailman and Miriam Margolyes. Based on the book My Life as an Alphabet, by Barry Jonsberg, this film is funny and moving, with some gently educational things to say about bullying, depression and family relationships. Little jokes inserted throughout provide a nice payoff at the end. It deserves a much larger audience than it is likely to receive, judging by how poorly it has been marketed. It covers similar territory to the much-hyped Paper Planes, another Australian film from a few years ago, but does it much better.

Your Own Kind of Girl, by Clare Bowditch

In a different kind of memoir, singer-songwriter Clare Bowditch details her long struggle for body acceptance starting from a very young age. The book has a curious overlapping structure. The first, and more substantial section, details Clare’s childhood, the slow accretion of anxiety that led to her breakdown at the age of 21 and her slow, ongoing recovery. The second goes into her relationship with music and her career, which are inextricably linked with the development of her relationship with her life partner Marty. It’s a bit odd at the start of the second section to realise that the early gigging and songwriting were happening at the same time as the increasing unwellness. But this actually works well to demonstrate that people seemingly functioning well and doing good creative work may still be touched by mental illness. In fact, of course, it can happen to anyone. Even people with supportive families, good friends and loving relationships can struggle with anxiety, eating disorders and getting help to deal with them. Imagine then how much more difficult it is for people without those things in their lives. Clare Bowditch is honest, funny and empathetic, baring her soul in the interest of helping others. Her book is an entertaining, if sometimes painful read, offering insights and resources to those who may need them.

Ruin, by Dervla McTiernan

A seeming suicide leads to the reopening of a 20-year-old overdose case; were they both actually murder? Detective Cormac Reilly must investigate Maud Blake, the woman who links both cases. He was the officer on the scene of the overdose death, in his first months on the job. What did he miss? At the same time he has to navigate the complex politics of the Galway police department, as a recent transfer in from Dublin. He has learned a lot in the last 20 years of policing and he will need all his experience to get to the bottom of this mess. McTiernan weaves a dark tale of abuse, tragedy and treachery, deceit and corruption – and that’s just the cops. The slightly world-weary Reilly is believable and relateable, stepping down in his career to support his partner. His move back to the west country brings personal and professional challenges as he works out who he can trust. A sequel has been published in what looks likely to be a satisfying series.

JoJo Rabbit (2019), directed by Taika Waititi

In Germany 1945, 10-year-old Johannes has been indoctrinated by Hitler Youth despite his moderate family. Adolf Hitler is his imaginary best friend and he strives to be what his friend expects. His obsession starts to unravel when he discovers his mother has been sheltering a Jewish girl and he has to decide what to do. The opening music is the Beatles singing in German over historical footage of crowds of Hitler fans demonstrating the mass hysteria of teenage girls. The tone is absurd rather than comic, eliciting the occasional smile, rather than laughs. And then every now and again Waititi smacks the audience in the face with a scene that shows the reality of Hitler’s Germany and the true horror of war. The accents are all over the place, which is a bit distracting in the early part of the film before the story really gets going. Roman Griffin Davis does well as JoJo and Scarlett Johansen is very good as JoJo’s loving mother. Thomasin McKenzie, Sam Rockwell and Alfie Allen provide good support. Casting comic actors Rebel Wilson and Steven Merchant as Nazi extremists was an interesting choice that adds to the sense of the absurd but little else. The closing music is David Bowie’s Heroes, which provides a nice counterpoint to the start.

A Quiet Life, by Natasha Walter

The mid twentieth century Soviet spy ring gets another workout, from a slightly different angle, in this quiet thriller. Naïve American Laura sails to Britain in 1939 to visit family, meeting onboard a dynamic young activist who influences her political views and becomes a friend. An outsider in every way, Laura keeps the different parts of her life separate from the start. Her family knows nothing of the communist meetings and rallies and her acquaintances know little of the decadent social set she is drawn into by her ambitious cousins. Her worlds are brought together when she meets and marries Edward Last, who turns out to also have a foot in both camps. Laura’s story is based on that of a real-life spy couple and it’s a fascinating examination of the dilemma of a loyal wife, under enormous pressure from all quarters when her husband disappears. In the time spent waiting for resolution after Edward has gone, Laura discovers that she hardly knew him at all and her divided life looks set to continue indefinitely, albeit in a different setting.

The Comet Seekers, by Helen Sedgewick

Astronomer Roisin is from Ireland; Francois is a chef from Bayeux, France. They meet in Antarctica and bond over Roisin’s obsession with comets. The story takes us back and forth in time, following the visits of various comets to the solar system and the effect they have on the Earth and its inhabitants. These effects are seen through the prism of one particular family, which has an almost mystical connection with comets that is passed on through the generations. We also follow the arc of Roisin’s relationship with her ‘kissing cousin’ – the push and pull of family and love versus that of science, the stars and the wider world. Beautifully written, with an almost poetic application of the science,the magical realism aspect gets a bit much as the intersection of Roisin and Francois’ lives becomes more than coincidence. The story comes full circle in more ways than one as the special two come to terms with their respective pasts, but it has perhaps taken too long and too many visiting comets to get there.