Hot Takes: Movies, gigs and Netflix bingeing for the weekend

Raiza Biza, IllBaz and Melodownz present the High Beams tour this weekend. Photo / Supplied

SEE

Thanks to the NZ International Film Festival, we have the chance to see an award-winning offering from Belgium that won two major awards at Cannes. Girl is a coming-of-age story about a teen called Lara, who has just moved to a new city, is training at a prestigious dance school and is transitioning gender. Although her father is supportive, Lara still has to figure out the leap from childhood as well also wrestling with her body and identity. Girl was one of the most talked about films at Cannes, winning the Camera d'Or for first-time director Lukas Dhont, and its lead, 16-year-old Victor Polster won best actor. It's on tomorrow and Saturday so head along if you can.

WITNESS

The incomparable Tami Neilson is performing at Auckland's Town Hall this Saturday and if you've heard her killer album Sassafrass, you'll know it's a show not to be missed. If you haven't, you should. It's an upbeat, colourful and richly textured release with a tonne of sass (hence the name) and zero apologies. I have to imagine the show will be the same - besides, seeing Tami live and hearing that insanely huge voice fill a room to bursting point is something else.

BINGE

I've only just jumped on this bandwagon and cannot even begin to sing its praises enough. The series follows two women in their 70s whose husbands leave them to be in a same-sex relationship. But more than that, it's about the most beautiful female friendship I've ever seen on screen and some very real family dynamics. It's also about acceptance, inclusion, feminism and growing older - and everything that entails whether it's pretty or not. And the Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin pairing is truly iconic. Plus, each episode is only half an hour and strikes a great balance of emotion and humour so it's easy to binge.

GO

Two weeks ago we featured High Beams, the new project by Kiwi producer IllBaz and rappers Raiza Biza and Melodownz, and this Saturday their tour is in town. Auckland is their last stop on their three-date tour, their first since launching the project. If you're still unfamiliar, check out their hits Live Stream (featuring soul star Teeks) and Red Wine (featuring High Hoops) - and also Sky High, which features much-loved Kiwi legend Che Fu. And to check out all these songs live, head to the Anthology Lounge on Saturday night - tickets are only $20.