Film Archive's media vault May 27

Film Archive's media vault May 27

It's been a good May for the Archive with some good houses in for the New Zealand Music Month screenings of TrinityRoots: Music is Choice and Costa Botes' Kathmandu Blues, as well as some robust and rather contentious discussions with our Talk/Show series. This weeks T/S presentation by Christine McCarthy about the trustworthiness of New Zealand architecture brought engineers and architects into the same room. It got warm, so to speak.

We're hopeful to bring back another series later this year, perhaps themed around the place of rugby in New Zealand, and it's certainly something for you to consider checking out.

We're a few days away from the month of June and for the Film Archive that means Matariki, the Maori new year. Along with the film Mataariki, we've also got a week's screenings of The Strength of Water, a film that took Hokianga to the world thru its screenings at some of the worlds most prestigious festivals.

In a similar vein, look forward to screenings of films including Ngati, Mauri and Feathers of Peace - we'll confirm those screenings as soon as possible.

Wedged in the middle is the next season of the Travelling Film Show, focused on Lost and Found, rare New Zealand films repatriated from around the world. Our politicians, sports people, musicians and adventurers feature in this rich and varied programme of films found in archives offshore and gifted back to New Zealand.

Righto, on with the listings... (as always, let me know if you're keen for images and I'll send thru cleared hi-res versions)

Wednesday 1, Thursday 2, Friday 3 & Saturday 4 June, 7pm
The Strength of Water
35mm, New Zealand, 86mins, M Violence, offensive language, sex scenes

Short: Beautifully shot with a ‘sense of magic realism’, this celebrated film tell how the lives of two young twins are changed forever when an enigmatic stranger comes to their Hokianga hometown.

Long: Beautifully shot with a ‘sense of magic realism’ and a powerfully emotive story by Briar Grace-Smith, The Strength of Water took the evocative landscape of the Hokianga to the world, showing at some of the world’s most prestigious film festivals including Cannes, Rotterdam, Shanghai and Sydney. Kimi and Melody live happily in an isolated Maori community until an enigmatic stranger, Tai, arrives, precipitating an accident which forces the twins apart. While others punish Tai, Kimi acts out his heartbreaking loneliness in destructive, angry ways, while looking after the Melody that only he can see.
Tickets: $8/6

Wednesday 8, Thursday 9, Friday 10 & Saturday 11 June, 7pm
Matariki
New Zealand, 92mins, RP13 Violence, drug use and offensive language.

Short: As the Matariki (Pleiades) constellation rises in the Southern skies, the lives of eight people are affected by one random act in this commentary of modern, multicultural New Zealand written and directed by Michael Bennet (Outrageous Fortune).

Long: It’s the Maori New Year, Matariki – a time for new beginnings. As the Matariki (Pleiades) constellation rises in the Southern skies, the lives of eight people are affected by one random act in this commentary of modern, multicultural New Zealand written and directed by Michael Bennet (Outrageous Fortune).
"Matariki is a film that wears its heart on its sleeve, but it's a good heart, and the sleeve feels like the right place for it to be worn. If you haven't seen a decent, likeable and accessible drama for a while, this low-budget gem could restore your faith." - Graeme Tuckett, The Dominion Post
Tickets: $8/6

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