By Jennifer McShane
09th Mar 2019
09th Mar 2019
A new month means a fresh round of must-watch films and TV series from the streaming giant. Netflix’s original programming remains their best but this month, they have plenty more from documentaries and award-winning film trilogies worth watching.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Adapted from the bestselling book by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind follows 13-year-old William Kamkwamba (newcomer Maxwell Simba) who is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. Sneaking back into the school library, he finds a way, using the bones of the bicycle belonging to his father Trywell (Chiwetel Ejiofor), to build a windmill which then saves his Malawian village from famine. It’s a beautiful film.
Available now
On Chesil Beach
A young couple’s in the 60s in Britain have their romance turned upside down when on their wedding night, a night of terrible sex changes everything. Based on the beautiful novel by Ian McEwan, the film stars Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle, who was featured as one of many soldiers in Christopher Nolan’s war epic Dunkirk. It’s a slow-burner, but Ronan is as compelling as ever.
March 10
March 11
Katie
The critically-acclaimed Irish documentary Katie follows champion boxer, Katie Taylor, as she attempts to rebuild her career after a year of turmoil threatened to derail it. With many writing her off, Taylor decided to start again, and the notoriously private champion agreed to let a small crew document her attempt as she did so. The result is a revealingly intimate portrayal of a sporting icon.
The Bodyguard
This six-part series from Jed Mercurio dominated conversation, ratings and awards to such an extent that no other show stood a chance – it gave the BBC its biggest ratings hit in a decade. It centres on tormented protagonist David Budd (played by a brooding Richard Madden in a multi-award-winning role) an army veteran with PTSD now working as a police officer, assigned to assigned to guard the home secretary, Julia Montague. Every episode features plot-twists and so much drama – it is one of the best series in recent years.
March 23
Notting Hill
Julia Roberts’ star quality was never brighter than when she starred in this gem of a romantic comedy. An amenable Hugh Grant punches above his weight when he meets Roberts’ character, playing a variation of her film star persona on screen – with her emotions always just below the surface. She gives what might be a tried-and-tested role genuine vulnerability and Grants’ quirkiness as the humble can’t-believe-his-luck bookshop owner who falls in love with her is utterly believable. It’s a total charmer.
March 23
Back to the Future trilogy
Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox are possibly one of the best on-screen pairings ever and the Back to the Future trilogy remains possibly their greatest achievement. What would it be like if you could go back in time and meet your parents? This was what the film’s creators asked themselves before the idea took shape which saw Marty McFly accidentally wind up in the 1950s and befriending his mum and dad because he accidentally altered the course of history – and his own existence. The comic timing, the soundtrack, that peach/pinky dress and the fact that every scene exists within the film solely to drive the plot along (so you’ll need to pay close attention to the finer details) makes the first film of its trilogy, in particular, unforgettable but the second and third parts are just as watchable.
26 March
Main photograph: Netflix
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