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Local film a Netflix hit

January 18, 2025 BY
Take My Hand Netflix

Take My Hand actors Adam Demos and Radha Mitchell with Claire Jensz and John Raftopoulos, on whose story the movie is based. Photo: SUPPLIED

A FILM set in and around Byron Bay has become a New Year’s Netflix hit, surging to the top three most-watched movies on the streaming service within days of its release.

Take My Hand is based on the true love story of Zephyr Horses co-owners Claire Jensz and John Raftopoulos, who reunite more than two decades after they first met as teenagers when she returns home from her high-flying career in London with her three sons after she is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and her husband is killed in a car accident.

Former Neighbours actress Radha Mitchell, who has also starred in movies such as Rogue, Surrogates and Finding Neverland, plays the main character Laura in the film, while Adam Demos plays her love interest Michael.

Adam Demos and Radha Mitchell at Harvest Newrybar in a scene from Take My Hand. Photo: TOM PAUL BYRNES

 

Raftopoulos, who co-wrote the script and directed the film, was thrilled to see it doing so well.

“I don’t think you really expect things like that to happen,” he said.

“When you’re trying to sell a project like this you get a lot of no’s, so it’s great that it’s been a success and we seem to be finding our audience there.”

Take My Hand director John Raftopoulos talking to Radha Mitchell on location. Photo: SUPPLIED

 

Viewers will recognise many locations in the film, including the recently closed Harvest Newrybar, Baz & Shaz Fruit & Veg at Suffolk Park, Victoria’s at Ewingsdale manor and Bangalow’s main street.

Other scenes in the film, which is produced by Bangalow-based Blake Northfield from Bronte Pictures, were also shot in Myocum, Federal, Knockrow, Billinudgel and Byron Bay.

Take My Hand filming in Bangalow. Photo: TOM PAUL BYRNES

 

The couple, who live on a farm at Coopers Shoot, hope that the movie will help raise awareness about MS, in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the fatty material around the nerves.

Jensz, who was the film’s executive producer, recently released a podcast called 1000 Little MS Things.

As the movie took some creative licence, she also plans to write a book to tell the story in her own words.