The Dish

The Dish is a charming Australian import. It features Sam Neill as the director of the world’s largest radio telescope in 1968, in a little town called Parkes in the southeast corner of Australia. The town of Parkes is excited about the Apollo 11 mission to the moon because their own dish will be a key receiver for the lunar television signals. Neill’s team of three scientists and one proud security guard is intimidated by the presence of an American NASA representative, not to mention the magnitude of their mission. Meanwhile, the mayor and the town dress to impress the visiting VIPs, including the Prime “Minaster” and the U.S. Ambassador. The quirky, colorful characters overshadow the film’s conflicts. Goodness, nostalgia, and awe win the day.