Luella Miller’s doors open!

Luella Miller’s doors open!

Edgy Kiwi chiller Luella Miller opens at Rialto Newmarket on Thursday the 13th of April.

Emerging director Dane Giraud is excited about the film’s release and complimentary towards Rialto’s commitment to New Zealand film, demonstrated by their ongoing Kiwi film festival that launched on Waitangi day.

Giraud and producer Robert Rowe (The Waiting Place) attended the digiSPAA film festival in Brisbane last year, where Luella Miller screened as one of four finalists.

In the US, Luella Miller has been picked up for distribution and world wide sales by Lifesize Entertainment, who report strong interest in the film already.
Luella Miller was shot using the latest digital technology, in the scorching sun of the Hawkes Bay last summer. The film stars Sara Wiseman (Mercy Peak), Sia Trokenheim (Shortland Street), Philip Brown (The Last Samurai), Alistair Browning (Rain), Jacqueline Nairn (Shortland Street), and Kevin J Wilson (Spooked).

The historic Oruawharo homestead in Takapau provided the main location for shooting as well as housing cast and crew. Rowe says, “The homestead was vital in capturing the eerie sense of isolation and depth of history that fed into the story.”

Luella Miller tells the story of Lydia Anderson (Sara Wiseman), who lives alone in a large old homestead in small town New Zealand, harboring fantasies for Christian, the boy next door. When Lydia finds the gorgeous, enigmatic and destitute Luella Miller hiding in her house, she takes pity on the young woman and allows her to stay. Luella's intense sexuality and seductive presence instantly disrupt the delicate balance of this small town. A bitter jealousy develops when Christian, like most of the men in town, falls under Luella's spell. Lydia is forced to finally confront Luella and her own feelings for Christian, leading to a shocking, tragic climax.

Luella Miller was made with the generous support of Creative New Zealand, the New Zealand Film Commission, EIT Hawkes Bay, Arkles Entertainment, Telecom, Ford New Zealand, Napoleon Cosmetics, RJC Clothing and Creative Communities CHB, Hastings and Napier.

ENDS

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