Cinema Aotearoa

The film world in New Zealand has evolved from a group of about 3 people into an actual industry. It’s still pretty exclusive, but as a young aspiring film maker it may now seem at least achievable to get a feature made. Back in the day for young film makers, flying to Mars may have appeared easier. These days Peter Jackson has made enough money, he could purchase a lavish waterfront beach house on Mars.

Long before Jackson was creating a world of his own, he along with a small number of iconic New Zealand film makers were grafting away, building an industry that could sustain careers and create compelling stories for the world to view. They succeeded and many aspiring film makers are reaping the rewards of those who struggled before them.

To pay homage to the New Zealand cinema, I decided to put together a list of my all-time favourite films. There were a few rules, they had to be feature films, made in New Zealand, directed and crewed by New Zealanders.

10. Sleeping Dogs (1977)

Roger Donaldson's "Sleeping Dogs," is about a time when New Zealand goes into a state of martial law, and underground groups form to fight against the dictatorship. Although Aotearoa is not under martial law, the future Donaldson depicts in Sleeping Dogs has become a reality for many. In fact, Sleeping Dogs is more relevant now than ever.

The film was released in 1977, NZ’s population had just tipped over the 3 million mark, Bastion Point had been taken over by local iwi, there were only 2 TV channels, and we were watching shows like Close to Home, Play School, and Ready to Roll. Sleeping Dogs was slated as the first full length feature film to be made entirely by New Zealanders, and it’s success was integral to the New Zealand Film Commission being established in 1978.

Dogs was the first NZ film I ever watched. To this day I still can’t remember, but I’m almost certain it was on TV rather than at the cinema. The thing that struck me initially was hearing the kiwi accents in an actual filmn. You normally only heard that while watching the 6pm News. I remember thinking 'Do we actually make films in this country? If so, the people making them must be extremely important'. I was totally fascinated and felt like New Zealand had somehow hit the big time.

Starring Sam Neil and Ian Mune and shot by Michael Seresin, whom along with Donaldson were trail blazers, and have gone on to major successes and storied careers.

For many, the least known outside of the industry will probably be Seresin. A fantastic cinematography who worked a lot with renowned English director Alan Parker. Film titles such as Midnight Express, Birdy, Angel Heart, Angela’s Ashes, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, to name a few, have all had a Seresin's critical eye creating their world. Both he and Neil have launched successful vineyards, and despite being on the wrong side of 60, Seresin is slated to be working on this years War of the Planet of the Apes. Legend!!!!

Sleeping Dogs is on my list more out of nostalgia than anything else, that’s not to say it’s not a great film. It will always hold a special place for me, it was the beginning of my NZ film journey.

9. Meet the Feebles (1989)

If you only know and are a fan of Peter Jackson for films like The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings, Meet the Feebles, may not be for you. This was Jackson’s second film following on from Bad Taste and is definitely one of my favourites.

Feebles follows an entertainment troupe of off the wall puppets as they prepare for a TV variety show. Robert the Hedgehog, an innocent young chorus boy just recruited to the troupe, is shocked to discover that impresario Bletch the Walrus is spurning the love of two-tonne diva Heidi the Hippo and dabbling in drug dealing while having sex with Samantha the Cat and making all-Feeble porno movies in the basement. Meanwhile, Sid the Elephant fights a paternity suit brought against him by a chicken groupie, Harry the Hare suffers from the dreaded sexually-transmitted disease that begins with the letter M, a gay Basil Brush-ish fox sings a song about how much he enjoys sodomy, and a Kermit look-alike knife-thrower is a heroin addict. All the while, a muckraking fly reporter is buzzing around trying to get the dirt on everyone and tucking into any tasty turds he finds in the toilet.

If that’s not enough to peek your interest, then you’ve probably stumbled across the wrong web page, and also, we can’t be friends.

Jackson showed early in his career he understood storytelling. Despite the adult themes, and obviously the characters are not human, the director made me care about all of these flawed creatures. The satirical look at celebrity and fame seems slightly ironic now, considering the company he keeps these days. What was clear from this film, Jackson was talented, motivated, innovative, and that he could pull off the production of a feature film. The rest as they say…….

Personally I wish he’d return to simpler film making, not that I’m expecting him to give up five hundred million thousand dollars per film Hollywood are paying him anytime soon.

Watching the trailer and I’m literally laughing out loud….

8. Savage Honeymoon

The Savage family are the Wests before Outrageous Fortune hit New Zealand TV screens. The director and writer of Savage Honeymoon, Mark Beesley, worked on both the film and TV series. Perhaps he and the rest of the Outrageous team were ahead of their time? Modern TV shows like Fargo, Westworld, From Dusk to Dawn, to name a few, have all come off the back of feature films. The film to TV format has been hit and miss, but it’s fair to say Outrageous was a success in New Zealand.

The storyline is simple, like many 20 year relationships, Mum and Dad Savage are having issues. So as the title suggests, Mum, Louise, & hubby Mickey decide a second honeymoon is the answer to their ills. As with all things Savage, things do not go as planned and mayhem unfolds.

The destination for the honeymoon is a camping ground in Pakiri. I remember thinking while I was watching, I know this place. I was quickly transported back to the early 90’s, with weekends staying in the fairly sparse and basic cabins there. This was well before the rich and well healed of Auckland had desecrated the scenery all along that coastline, anyway I digress.

The film doesn’t take itself seriously, rather the tone is perfectly who gives a f#$# westies styles, and that’s what I liked about it the most.

Probably one of the funniest things about this film, the NZ chief sensor at the time gave it an R18 rating, hahahahahahahahahaha! It was released in 2000, not 1963. Honestly, NZ aye.

Actually if you look at this trailer you might think it was made in 1970…

Outrageous Fortune and the follow up series, of which I can’t remember the name of and which I haven’t watched a minute, have milked this trope like a dead cow from an AFFCO freezing works circa 1984. Despite this, it has not dulled my enthusiasm for the original Westside family and as a former bogan, who proudly rocked a mullet in the 80’s, I still have affection for this film. The Savages come in at number 8 on my list.

7. Goodbye Pork Pie (1980)

I had a major dilemma here to be honest. I really like all the early Geoff Murphy films, especially Utu and A Quiet Earth. I picked Pork Pie because in 1980 a road trip in a yellow mini from Kaitaia to Invercargill seemed as exciting as going to the Gold Coast theme parks for today’s pimply, cell phoned obsessed army of youngsters. Considering I was about 14 when the other 2 films were released, they were a bit over my head and I didn’t come to understand them until I had moved out of my stubbies and skivvies.

In Pork Pie, Murphy had made a film that was international, yes, yes, I know this film couldn’t be more kiwi but, the story line could have been adapted in any country and understood in any language. In essence, Murphy had essentially unlocked the door to a mainstream audience.

At its most basic, Pork Pie is a road movie about a man chasing after a woman, and when it comes to hitting the mainstream audience, simplicity is key. Don’t overcomplicate shit, make the story line simple and get the audience to care about your characters. It also helps if you have car chases, guns, and a sense of humour.

Check out the trailer...

Does it look dated and cheesy? Of course it does, it’s the quatrro fromagio of pizzas, but come on, it was 1981.

Murphy was another trailer blazer in the New Zealand film industry, who went on to have a successful career in the States. He was a creative and destined to be in the arts as a founding member of the musical and theatrical group Blerta. He rubbed shoulders with Bruno Lawrence, who would go on to star in both Utu and A Quiet Earth.

A new version of the film was released last year, Directed by Murphy’s son Matt, good bit of New Zealand nepotism maybe? It stars Dean O’Gorman and my favourite New Zealand actor not named Cliff Curtis, James Rolleston. I haven’t seen it, but from what I hear it’s an enjoyable film.

Me, I’ll stick with the original for now. I loved this film for its simplicity, its irreverence to authority, and overall its sense of fun.

6. Heavenly Creatures (1994)

I’m a big fan of films based on true stories, especially when they’re odd or involve dysfunction of some sort and Heavenly Creatures ticks those boxes no problem at all.

Here’s the dysfunctional stuff, its Christchurch 1957 and 2 young girls bash the head of one their mothers until she’s dead. All is not well at home…

The odd stuff, it was whispered at the time that the girls had a lesbian relationship; but since almost everyone involved, including the girls, knew very little about what that might entail, the subject was suppressed. Tried and sentenced, the girls served five years in prison before being paroled on the condition that they never see each other again.

Now in today’s society, suggesting two woman/girls in a lesbian relationship being odd would see a social media pile on of epic proportions. I’m guessing in Christchurch circa 1952 things were slightly different. I’ve done no further research into the matter either, that part doesn’t interest me in the slightest….

The odd part for me was this, the girls served five years in prison before being paroled on the condition that they never see each other again. Only 5 years, then promise you’ll never see each other again, like, forever and ever amen? Who’s actually policing that? What if they both moved to Europe (which one of them did) or even Kaitaia? How on earth can you enforce such a ludicrous sentence? As I said before, things in 1952 Christchurch were different.

What can’t be questioned and is clearly evident is Jackson's ability to craft a story. Once again his fascination with make-believe worlds and lands is given scope here. As the girl’s relationship begins to grow and intensify, they create their own imaginary country with dream castles and heroic figures with which they identify. Does that sound like something Jackson might be interested in? I think so.

The girl’s relationship becomes too much for some, and with both their home lives fracturing the possibility of being apart is too much to bear. They decide the answer to their problems is to kill one of their mothers, slightly extreme one might say.

Not only did Heavenly Creatures cement Jacksons directing credentials, it also launched the career of his screen writing partner Fran Walsh. Their work on this film received an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay. The two young actresses in their first lead roles were also launched into the industry off the back of this film. Kate Winslett, (she’s done ok), and our own Melanie Lynsky, I always thought the New Zealand public never gave Melanie the credit she deserved. Speaking of odd, Lynsky got an up close and personal look at the demise of Charlie Sheen while working on the worst, most popular sitcom in the States, Two and a Half Men. That would’ve been crazy.

I’ll say this again, I loved these early Jackson films, before he got completely lost in a world of CGI and over the top production values. A simple story told well, that’ll do me.

5. Boy (2010)

I had to put a Taika film on my list, and to be honest, I would’ve picked 2 Cars 1 Night, but this list is about feature films.

I picked Boy for a number of reasons. One, being that my whanau are from Te Whanau a Apanui, so I have to support them.

Secondly, its funny.

Thirdly, it’s got a heart.

From the opening scene, Taika Waititi sets up a happy go lucky storyline which follows Boy (James Rolleston), and his relationship with his long absent father, Alamein (Waititi). Dad has returned home, and is set to impress everyone and anyone he touches, especially Boy.

The film shot in and around Waihau Bay, is set in 1984, which happens to be an era I’m very familiar with. I may have been slightly older than Boy, but I’m intimately aware of the references to the supporting characters Rocky, Dallas and Dynasty, plus anyone who was a teenager in the 80’s knows all the words to Michael Jacksons hit song Thriller.

Waititi touches on some serious male, whanau issues in the film, but he paints across them with a wistful brush. You come away from Boy with a smile on your face, feeling good about world, not discussing social issues.

In James Rolleston, Waititi unearthed a massive talent. As I’ve previously written, he’s one of my favourite New Zealand actors right now. I’ve met James a couple of times and he came across as a grounded, humble, respectful man, traits worthy of any human. I’ve watched him in a number of productions since Boy and he has a serious future if he can stay focused, and the recent car accident hasn't affected him too much.

James carries the film like a veteran not a newbie. I’d question anyone who didn’t find him cute and likeable and you’d need to be heartless not to be rooting for him.

The other thing that becomes clear I guess, is it’s easy to write this now as its 7yrs and a couple of films later, but Taika is a talented MF! There seems to be nothing he can do wrong, everything he touches turns to gold. I’m really interested to see how Thor works out for Waititi, his films to date have mostly been comedic, with a cute and likeable tone. A change of pace could take him to another level, it does feel like Taika has gone to play with the adults though.

For me, Boy is a better film than Hunt For The Wilderpeople, even if the rest of the world disagrees.

Anyway, I’m off to slap on a Michael Jackson mixtape, bust open a cask of chateau cardboard and eat some cheese and a gherkin off a toothpick.

4. In my Fathers Den (2004)

Returning home to a small town is something I think many New Zealanders can relate to. Whether it’s from overseas or even just from the city back to the country. I think about my own group of friends in Auckland, maybe 2 or 3 people were born and bred in the city we now call home.

In my Fathers Den uses this trope as its central theme, although not an original idea, it was one I could relate to. Brad McGann directed the film, his first feature, which is based on NZ author Maurice Gee’s book of the same name. Tragically for McGann it was his first and last film, after battling cancer he passed away in 2007.

The story follows Paul (Matthew McFadyen), who has spent years working in Europe as a photo-journalist, returns to the small South Island town he'd left as a teenager, to attend his father's funeral.

Families are often complicated and this film delves into those dark holes that family members cover up and push into the corners of their homes. I won’t give away too much of the plot, instead I'll talk about the tone of the film.

I remember someone saying to me after this film came out “why do New Zealand films always have to be so dark?” A valid point, although this has changed with a number of comedies recently being released. I for one like my films to have some meat on their bones, and am less interested in a no legs, no arms, no arsehole plot, which does not affect me in any way. This film is somber in tone and touches on relationships that aren’t all pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. Yes its not all happy families, but that doesn't mean this is not a great film.

The soundtrack which features Patti Smith's Horses, Mazzy Star and Kristin Hersh, adds to the somber atmospheric feel as the story opens old wounds that have been festering for some time.

Yes, none of this is original, but McGann and the cast do a wonderful job of bringing Gees story to the screen and I for one was a big fan of In my Fathers Den.

3. Rain

Rain is an undervalued New Zealand film in my humble opinion. I watched it on my return from a 3-year stint in the UK, maybe I was feeling Aotearoa nostalgic, but it struck a chord with me and I‘ve raved about it ever since.

Directed by Christine Jeffs and released in 2001, the film focuses on a dysfunctional family holidaying in picturese Mahurangi peninsula in 1971. As far as connecting with this film goes, I was all over it: dysfunctional family, check, beach holidays as a kid in the 70’s, check. As an adult, spending long summer days drinking with friends at the beach, check. I guess it’s no surprise I was into this film.

Although we follow the family, the central character of Rain is 13yr old Janey, played wonderfully by Alicia Fulford-Wierzbicki. Janey is a typical teenager at odds with her parents, annoyed by her younger brother, who steals scenes throughout the film, spreading her wings and pushing boundaries. I have a 13yr old girl, I’m nervous…

Janey's parents are not happy together, there is very little left in their relationship other than a love of alcohol. The husband (Alister Browning), seems to spend his days in a drunken haze having very little to do with either his wife (Sarah Peirse) or his two kids. Meanwhile, Mum is enamoured with a handsome drifter (Martin Csokas), who she's having a summer fling with. Problem is he's also catching the eye of a budding Janey. It’s no surprise things get complicated.

Beautifully shot, Rain perfectly captures 70's New Zealand and Jeffs proves her directing chops by delivering an ending that will make you... lets just say you'd have to be made of stone not to be affected. The director gained some momentum off the back of Rain, directing Sylvia, a film about Sylvia Plath which starred Gwyneth Paltrow. She followed that up with the acclaimed Indy Sunshine Cleaning in 2008, but has been quiet since.

Rain is a fantastic film, it comes in at number 3 on my list. If you haven’t seen it, go get wet.

2. Smash Palace (1981)

This truly is one of my favourite New Zealand films. Smash Palace, directed once again by Roger Donaldson, stars Bruno Lawrence in a flawless performance as Al Shaw.

The story centres around Lawrence’s character, a man who once lived the high life as a racing car driver, who now returns home to small town New Zealand with his wife and child, played by a very cute Greer Robson. Despite wanting her husband to retire from the dangerous racing circuit, Jacqui Shaw, Als wife, played by Anna Maria Monticelli, the reality of returning to a rundown wrecking yard in the one horse town of Waiouru was not what she had in mind. The demise of their relationship and the tug of war for the child becomes the central storyline of Smash Palace.

Coming from a broken home and living in small town New Zealand, this film resonated with me on levels none had before. Although my brother and I were never kidnapped and my town had like, at least six horses, I connected with the characters and took a ride with them from the beginning to end.

I remember doing a road trip from my home town of Te Awamutu to visit cousins in Wellington. I travelled with my Mum and brother, I was about 15 and I couldn’t wait to go through Waiouru. I was excited about the prospect of stopping in Waiouru and taking a look at Smash Palace. Unfortunately my family weren’t quite as excited, we drove straight past.

The film highlighted the ability of Bruno Lawrence, an immensely talented actor. For me Lawrence was one of New Zealand’s greatest, not only actors, but entertainers. If he had lived in a different era, he would’ve kicked Russell Crowe's arse all around Rome.

Donaldson’s career went international from here. The list of actors he has worked with is impressive as it is star studded: Al Pacino, Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Cruise, Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, to name a few. Everyone talks about Peter Jackson but for me, Roger Donaldson will remain my favourite New Zealand director.

Check out the trailer of another quality film from the Donaldson library.

1. Once were Warriors

Roger Ebert

Booze is the problem in the household, triggering terrifying personality changes.

The movie has carved a reputation for itself on the festival circuit, leaving audiences shaken and silent at Telluride, Toronto, Honolulu and Park City.

It is powerful and chilling, and directed by Lee Tamahori with such narrative momentum that we are swept along in the enveloping tragedy of the family's life.

Jami Bernard New York Daily News

"Once Were Warriors" has more to say than the traditional TV-movie about spousal abuse. But some viewers will have to pay a price: This is a movie that requires strength and fortitude to sit through.

By Stephen Hunter, Baltimore Sun

It's a fine, fierce and nearly unforgettable movie.

As a New Zealander you would have had to be living in a cave not to know what film the above reviews were talking about. I remember going to see this film in Newmarket in Auckland, which seemed like a million miles away from Jake and Beths house. I walked out onto Broadway, the self-proclaimed retail centre of Auckland, feeling emotionally battered.

Now, I’ll not purport to have a background exactly like the one portrayed on screen by the Heke whanau, but I knew a lot of what those kids had been feeling and going through. Warriors rocked me to the core, it brought back some suppressed emotions which had been hiding away since the late 70’s. Not only was I moved by what I had seen on screen, it appeared a lot of the cinema going world were affected by Once Were Warriors.

The violence the film portrayed was raw and emotional, and at the time there was a lot of talk about how it was a Maori issue. Let’s be honest here, the violence woman have been subjected to by men has nothing to do with colour or social standing. To be clear, it is a MALE problem. But I’ll let someone way smarter than I cover that issue.

The film was not only a success in New Zealand, the world were being shocked and affected, the cast and crew went on a promotional trip across the globe hopping from one festival to another. Lee Tamahori's career took off, he directed a Bond film, not my favourite by a long shot, and most famously was caught on Hollywood Boulevard dressed as a woman. Perhaps he was hoping Eddie Murphy might drive by. Rena Owen and everyone’s favourite, Temuera Morrison, seemed like they were destined for fame and fortune. Neither reached the heights they did in Warriors. The one guy who has gone on to become, in my mind anyway, New Zealand’s greatest actor is Cliff Curtis. His magnificent portrayal of Uncle Bully was a sign of things to come. I watched his performance in 2014's The Dark Horse, in awe of his talent.

In 2014 there was a documentary made by cast member Julian Arahanga called, "Once Were Warriors - Where Are They Now", 20 years on from its release. It was a reminder for all the cast they had been a part of something special in New Zealand’s film making history.

In the end, Once Were Warriors, warts and all, will go down as a seminal New Zealand film whether you like it or not, and it’s my No 1.