Who owns a story? Can there ever be a single truth about anything? Or even one we can all agree to privilege above the others? These are resonant questions in a time of ever-shifting social, political and cultural certainties, of alternative realities being proffered by social media influencers, activists and random individuals keen to assert their hot take – however well/badly informed it is. We are living in a time of benign and malicious falsehoods whizzing round the earth a hundred times before basic facts have even begun searching for their boots, and with AI poised to vacuum up the last shreds of human integrity.
One Night, a six-part Australian mystery drama created and written by Emily Ballou (The Slap) and directed by Catherine Millar (The Secrets She Keeps) and Lisa Matthews, has them at its heart. Simone (Nicole da Silva) has written a book, but has concealed from everyone except her agent (always tell your agent everything) how much of it is based on traumatic events in her teenage years. When the book comes out – published anonymously, which only helps drive sales – all hell slowly but surely breaks loose.
