Ashleigh Cummings and Brenna Harding as Sue and Debbie.  Photo by Glendyn Ivin from his amazing blog Hoaxville

I was at a party on Saturday night in Newtown, filled with Australian up and coming filmmakers and I cannot believe how few of them actually watch the hands down best drama on Australian TV, Puberty Blues.

At a time when people seem to continually bash the Australian film and TV industries for a lack of quality, there's an incredible show whose ratings are a quarter of those for event based reality TV.

What the fuck Australia?

Puberty Blues such a beautifully intimate and funny portrayal of both pubescent teenagers and their confused parents trying to sort their shit out.

Unlike so much TV, under the direction of both Glendyn Ivin and Emma Freeman, this show has the confidence in its ability to make you empathise with its characters that it doesn't need to beg for your attention through its style.  John Brawley's cinematography is immaculate, and isn't afraid to have the faces of his characters silhouette.  By the way, make sure you check out Glendyn's blog Hoaxville for some beautiful on set photos, that really capture the 70s aesthetic.

Without a doubt, Susie Porter and Dan Wylie's Pam and Roger Knight are the coolest parents to ever appear on TV.

And look, I understand that there's an awkwardness in watching sex scenes with your parents that might put off its teenage demographic, but for those who don't live at home, there's no excuse.  

But at a time when a lot of families can watch Game of Thrones brutally violate its characters, I find it somewhat disheartening that quiet stories aren't getting the same attention.  (That's not to say they are mutually exclusive, we can enjoy both shows).

Channel 10 might be having some problems lately in finding its audience, but the quality of it's drama is not to blame.

Seriously, check out the show on DVD and series 2 is still currently on Channel 10's Tenplay service.  It's an incredible show and if we can give it enough support, hopefully the network will be encouraged enough to commission a third series.

This is the high bar for drama we deserve. 

Dan Wylie as Roger Knight (by Glendyn)

"CINEMA IS SECRETLY ABOUT BEING DORKY AND EARNEST"

- Film Crit Hulk

“Too many creative people don’t wanna learn how to be technical, so what happens? They become dependent on technical people.  Become technical.  You can learn that. If you’re creative and technical, you’re unstoppable.”

- Robert Rodriguez

"The voice that sparks you is your voice – that’s the inner light"

- Martin Scorsese

During our honeymoon, we had the opportunity to stop over in Malta where we met up with my family, who were there because my Dad wanted to see where his dad, Pop grew up.

We were walking through the streets of Valetta, and my Pop pointed out an interesting clock that only has one hand.  Turns out that when he was training to be a mechanic, he used to be tasked with watching his boss’ Fiat and driving it into the town centre on a Sunday morning, after church so that everyone could see how fancy his boss was, having a shiny car and all.

A one handed clock, in the middle of Valetta

As Dad and Pop were checking the clock out, I turned around and noticed the bust of Enrico Mizzi in prime position in the street.

As far as we can tell, Enrico was a champion for Maltese independence from British rule.

A quick history on Malta.  

Being situated between Africa and Sicily, Malta has always had a significant level of immigration.  The Tarxien temples are some of the oldest structures known to man and predate both Stonehenge and the Pyramids.  

The Tarxien Temples

After a bunch of occupying forces over the years, they ended up under British rule.

During WWII, Malta served as the base for British submarines, who sank a bunch of German supply ships throughout the Mediterranean.  In response, the Germans bombed the hell out of Malta (with more tonnage of explosives being dropped there than anywhere else in the world).

Whilst the war was going on, Enrico was imprisoned by the British, on the grounds that he was an agitator of anti-British sentiment.  

Three of the Maltese internees, Formosa, Ganado and Cossai, together with Enrico Mizzi in front of the internment camp at Uganda

We think that the reason we haven’t heard about Enrico before, despite living in close proximity to Marsa, was because my Pop’s family, who emigrated to Australia as a 10 pound Pom, for obvious reasons, didn’t publicise their relations with Enrico.

However after the war, Enrico was released from internment and helped to draft the Maltese constitution, became Prime Minister in 1950, where he passed away in office.

Enrico with the Maltese internee football team

The official date of Maltese independence is the 21st September 1964, and despite not living to see it, there’s no doubt Enrico definitely played a role in Malta attaining it.

The things you learn whilst travelling can be amazing.