September 2025 OETA Movie Club: Genius, Espionage, Family Mayhem & Survival

September is packed with gripping drama, Cold War intrigue, heartwarming comedy, and thought-provoking sci-fi. From Oscar winners to hidden gems, OETA Movie Club invites you to spend Saturday nights with films that spark conversation and stay with you long after the credits roll.

Proof (2003)

📅  Airs Saturday, Sept 6 at 9 p.m. | Encore Friday, Sept 12 at 11 p.m.

Starring:Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal, Hope Davis

Description: Based on the Pulitzer Prize–winning play, Proof is a moving drama about love, legacy, and the fine line between brilliance and madness. Catherine (Paltrow), the daughter of a once-renowned mathematician (Hopkins), has spent years caring for her father as his mind unravels. When he dies, she must face her own fears of inheriting his genius, and his illness. As a shocking discovery of a groundbreaking proof emerges, tensions mount between Catherine, her sister, and her father’s protégé (Gyllenhaal), leading to a gripping exploration of trust, identity, and truth.

🎬 Fun Facts

• What personal tragedy almost caused Gwyneth Paltrow to drop out of Proof just before filming began? Answer: Her father, Bruce Paltrow, passed away two weeks before production, and she nearly quit until her brother encouraged her to continue.
• Which actress first played Catherine on stage and won both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for the role? Answer: Mary-Louise Parker, who originated the part on Broadway in 2000.
• Which two cast members of Proof had already worked together in Hearts in Atlantis (2001)? Answer: Sir Anthony Hopkins and Hope Davis.
• Did you know Proof launched a few acting careers? Answer: Yes – Anne Wittman, Chipo Chung, and Haroula Rose all made their film debuts here.

▶️ Watch the trailer: Proof Trailer

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

📅 Airs Saturday, Sept 13 at 9 p.m. | Encore Friday, Sept 19 at 11 p.m.

Starring:Richard Burton, Oskar Werner, Claire Bloom

Description: Called one of the greatest spy films ever made, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold immerses viewers in John le Carré’s bleak Cold War world. Richard Burton stars as Alec Leamas, a weary British agent lured into one last mission. Disguised as a disgraced drunkard, Leamas is sent into East Germany to root out a double agent, but finds himself trapped in a ruthless game of betrayal, shifting loyalties, and moral compromise. Filmed in moody black-and-white, it is a masterclass in suspense and moral ambiguity.

🎬 Fun Facts

• What real-life experience did author John le Carré draw on when writing The Spy Who Came in from the Cold? Answer: He worked for MI5 and MI6 in Berlin during the construction of the Berlin Wall—and used that firsthand knowledge to shape the novel’s world.
• Which famous author once called The Spy Who Came in from the Cold “the best spy story I have ever read”? Answer: Graham Greene, the legendary writer of The Quiet American and The Third Man.
• At just eight words long, what distinction does the title The Spy Who Came in from the Cold hold among John le Carré’s works? Answer: It’s the longest title of any le Carré novel or adaptation for film or television.
• Did the original film adaptation earn recognition in the mystery world? Answer: Yes! Screenwriters Paul Dehn and Guy Trosper won the Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1966 for Best Motion Picture Screenplay.

▶️ Watch the trailer: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Trailer

Yours, Mine and Ours (2005)

📅 Airs Saturday, Sept 20 at 9 p.m. | Encore Friday, Sept 26 at 11 p.m.

Starring:Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo, Jerry O’Connell

Description: Family life gets a hilarious shake-up in this remake of the 1968 classic. Admiral Frank Beardsley (Quaid), a widowed father of eight, rekindles romance with handbag designer Helen North (Russo), a widowed mother of ten. When the two marry, their 18 children declare war, sabotaging the relationship with every trick in the book. Filled with slapstick comedy, tender moments, and lessons in teamwork, Yours, Mine and Ours is a feel-good comedy that shows love really can conquer chaos.

🎬 Fun Facts

• Which Christian alternative-rock band not only performed the film’s theme song “Bring Em’ Out” but also appeared in the party scene? Answer: Hawk Nelson, featuring Drake Bell!
• The Beardsley family’s big new home looked familiar for a reason, can you guess where else it appeared? Answer: It’s the same house used in the 1991 remake of Father of the Bride!
• Which Harrison Ford connection almost changed the film completely? Answer: He was the original choice to play Frank Beardsley but turned it down over salary negotiations.
• Did you know two of the stars shared screen history before becoming Beardsley siblings? Answer: Sean Faris and Katija Pevec had already worked together in the teen comedy Sleepover (2004).

▶️ Watch the trailer: Yours, Mine and Ours Trailer

Z for Zachariah (2015)

📅 Airs Saturday, Sept 27 at 9 p.m. | Encore Friday, Oct 3 at 11 p.m.

Starring:Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Pine, Margot Robbie

Description:Z for Zachariah is a haunting, intimate post-apocalyptic drama. After a nuclear catastrophe, Ann (Robbie) believes she is the last survivor on Earth, until she discovers a desperate scientist (Ejiofor). Their fragile partnership begins to blossom into something more, but when a mysterious stranger (Pine) enters their isolated valley, jealousy and mistrust threaten to destroy their tenuous survival. With its breathtaking New Zealand landscapes and slow-burn suspense, the film asks powerful questions about humanity, morality, and hope in the face of ruin.

🎬 Fun Facts

• Did you know Z for Zachariah was originally a two-character story in the novel, no love triangle at all? The film added a third survivor to raise the stakes.
• Can you guess where this “Appalachian” story was really filmed? Not the U.S., but New Zealand’s Banks Peninsula, chosen for its strikingly similar geography.
• Which Hollywood star was first cast in Margot Robbie’s role? Hint: She had to drop out when filming was delayed, leaving room for Robbie to step in. (Answer: Amanda Seyfried!)
• What DC Comics connection do Margot Robbie and Chris Pine share? Robbie plays Harley Quinn, while Pine plays Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman!

▶️ Watch the trailer: Z for Zachariah Trailer

🍿Why Watch on OETA?

Every Saturday night, OETA Movie Club brings you commercial-free films with exclusive trivia, thoughtful context, and classic storytelling. Whether you’re revisiting old favorites or discovering powerful films for the first time, OETA is your destination for cinematic experiences that matter.