Two New Zealand movies are out right now, both of them well worth seeing. Saw Taika Waititi’s Boy last night. It is a hilariously funny coming of age movie set on the East Coast. It’s 1984 and Michael Jackson’s Thriller is all the rage. Waititi wrote, directed and stars in it. He has comedic talent busting out of every pore. And he deserves a medal for getting such memorable performances out of the young cast members.
Very different in style is This Way of Life which I missed when it first came out but am glad I recently caught it on the big screen. Interestingly, like Boy, it is a picture of Maori living on the edge. Also set on the East Coast of the North Island. But this one is a documentary, by Tom Burstyn and Barbara Sumner Burstyn. It tells the story of a Maori family living on the land. It is utterly original, beautifully filmed and allows the subjects to tell their own stories.
Two movies, great film making.
Yee haa! Want to see this film!
Poi e is a great song.
Saw Boy Friday night – wonderful mixture of funny and sad. Isn’t the East Coast timeless.
nice reviews – thanks Phil.
And have you seen The Strength of Water – based in the Hokianga ? It is very moving.
Yee haa it’s Sunday! Time for some greetings! Happy Easter Phil, Trev, Barbara and Jenny
And I want to wish a Happy Easter to m illsy and jarbury
Jenny, I havent seen The Strength of Water. But I see Florian Habicht’s Land of the Long White Cloud is about to screen at my local. Speaking of movies about the north. It looks good.
We saw Boy in the weekend; Taika Waititi is the personification of pure brilliance, just loved it. Taika is one very clever man. There was a couple of points in the film where I thought it was going to take a Once Were Warriors Turn, but was relieved to see it didn’t. I will definitely check out This Way of Life – thanks for the heads up. Btw, Taika was in another really good film called Snakeskin – came out in about 2001 I think. Quite dark, but really good. Also starred Melanie Lynskey
I just loved This Way of Life and highly recommend it. I don’t often recommend movies, but everyone I told to see it got back to me and said it was brilliant. The landscapes alone are magnificent, and the people are courageous.