Australian of the Year Rosie Batty will tell her story to Foxtel later this month.
The documentary is one of the most compelling things you will see this year.
The Nice House tells Rosie’s story: how the man she met and fell in love with would one day murder their only son. When 11-year-old, Luke Batty finished cricket training he asked his Mum, Rosie, for ‘a few more minutes’ to hit some balls with his Dad. She agreed. A few minutes later her son was dead. The Nice House is a very personal and evocative portrait of Rosie Batty’s 11-year battle with what she describes as ‘the silent killer’ – family violence. Less than 24 hours after the tragic death of her 11-year-old son, she stood in front of the media and gave an interview that took everyone by surprise. Instead of hatred and recrimination there was compassion and poise, reflection and a message, “that family violence happens to everybody, no matter how nice your house is, how intelligent you are, it happens to anyone and everyone”. Through Rosie’s accounts, the film investigates the circumstances behind Luke’s and Greg’s deaths. Luke’s cricket coach, Cameron Colvin and Rosie’s close friend, Mariette Mullavey help to offer insights into the events that led up to this devastating incident and its aftermath. But in the end, it is Rosie’s story. How could a mother show such compassion and forgiveness after such a tragedy?
The Nice House premieres exclusively on Foxtel’s CI Network, Wednesday November 25 at 8.30pm.