The Pull of the Moon

Media Release – For Immediate Release 15 December 2009

The Pull of the Moon

Makers of a New Zealand feature film have endorsed the findings of an Australian hospital regarding the effects of the full moon. ``Mental illness used to be called lunacy,’’ says Mike Riddell, ``in recognition of the fact that the moon can make everyone a little crazy.’’

Riddell is both the writer and New Zealand producer of The Insatiable Moon, a film starring Whale Rider star Rawiri Paratene as a psychiatric patient named Arthur who believes himself to be the second son of God. ``The moon is a character in the film,’’says Riddell, ``and influences Arthur and his story.’’ The film, which has been shot in Ponsonby over the last 5 weeks, also stars Sara Wiseman and Ian Mune.

After many years working among psychiatric patients, Riddell is convinced that the coming of the full moon makes an observable difference to the behaviour of those who suffer from mental illness. ``If you talk to the people in the field, they are aware of the cycles of the moon.’’

But it’s not quite the behaviour referenced in New Moon or the suggestion of ‘werewolf’ behaviour. Riddell slates the fear and prejudice which is associated with mental illness. ``Many people have a fear of that which they don’t understand, and are unsettled by behaviour which is out of the ordinary. But people with psychiatric illness are in general no more dangerous than people with diabetes,’’ he says.

The Insatiable Moon is a film which deals with issues of stigma and marginalisation, but in the context of what Riddell calls ``a rollicking good yarn.’’ A collaboration between British and New Zealand filmmakers, the movie will be released internationally next year.

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