STACK March 2016 Issue 71

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kiwi comeback
T his month sees the
opening of the latest
films from two of New
Zealand’s best known directors. A
host of other new features are in
the pipeline, although some may
not be released until next year.
The first major new Kiwi film out
of the blocks is the drama Mahana,
which reunites the team behind
Once Were Warriors – director Lee
Tamahori, star Temuera Morrison
and producer Robin Scholes – and
opens on March 3.
Tamahori’s first homegrown
film in 20 years is based on Whale Rider author
Witi Ihimaera's novel Bulibash and centres on the
longstanding feud between two Maori sheep-
shearing families, the Mahanas and the Poatas,
on the East Coast in the 1960s. Newcomer
Akuhata ‘Augs’ Keefe plays the youngest Mahana,
while Morrison and Jim Moriarty are the rival
family patriarchs.
Mahana is due to be followed in cinemas on
March 31 by Taika Waititi’s new film Hunt for the
Wilderpeople, which premiered at this year's
Sundance Film Festival. Based on Barry Crump's
1986 novel Wild Pork and Watercress, the
comedy tells the story of a wild young kid (Julian
Dennison) on the run with his cantankerous foster
uncle (Sam Neill) in the New Zealand bush.
Meanwhile, 25 April, an innovative new
documentary about Gallipoli, will be released –
appropriately enough – on April 25. Directed by
Leanne Pooley (Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls),
the film uses graphic novel-like
animation to bring the story of
the New Zealand experiences
in the disastrous First World
War campaign vividly to life.
Keep an eye out, too, for David
Farrier and Dylan Reeve's witty
documentary Tickled, which
received rave reviews at Sundance
this year, although dates are still
be announced for this part of the
world.
Release dates are also still
being finalised for a number of
other Kiwi films in the pipeline, but
the comedy Chief Gary has been provisionally
scheduled for September. Set mainly in
Rarotonga, the film marks the directorial debut of
Jarrod Holt, Nigel McCulloch and Ryan Hutchings
– creators of the comedy shows 7 Days and
Coverband – and tells the story of loser real
estate agent (Josh Thomson), who becomes chief
of a sinking Pacific island.
Another movie in production with a Pacific
theme is One Thousand Ropes, the sophomore
feature fromTusi Tamasese (The Orator). The
film tells the emotional story of a Samoan father
reconnecting with his daughter.
Other recent productions which may or may
not see the light of the day this year include the
psychological thriller Human Traces, the debut
feature from writer-director Nic Gorman, and The
Rehearsal, which is based on the first novel of
Booker Award-winner Eleanor Catton. The drama
marks the return to New Zealand of expat director
Alison Maclean (Crush) and the cast includes
James Rolleston, Kerry Fox, Alice Englert and
country singer Marlon Williams.
Also on the way is Toa Fraser’s latest, 6 Days, a
UK/New Zealand co-production which is based on
the true story of the siege at the Iranian Embassy
in London in 1980, and was shot partly here.
In addition, a number of major new
documentaries are currently in production,
including Roger Donaldson’s portrait of racing
legend Bruce McLaren, and a profile of the
recently retired All Black captain Richie McCaw.
After a lean 2015, this year is shaping up to a biggie for NZ films.
visit EXTRAS NEWS
08 MARCH 2016
EXTRAS
NEW ZEALAND GETS
READY TO RUMBLE
WWE is returning to New Zealand for its first
live event in five years.
Auckland’s Vector Arena will play host to the
global sports entertainment phenomenon on
August 10, with WWE Live line-up expected to
include Roman Reigns, Divas champion Charlotte,
Kevin Owens, Ryback, Sasha Banks, Sheamus and
WWE Tag Team Champions New Day.
In the meantime, there is plenty of new WWE
titles on the way, including the ever popular
WWE: Royal Rumble 2016, which this year was
held in Orlando, Florida, and features the likes of
defending champion
Roman Reigns, Dean
Ambrose and Triple
H (pictured). It is out
on DVD and Blu-ray
on March 10, along
with WWE: Tables,
Ladders & Chairs
2015 and WWE: Best
PPV Matches 2015.
The biggest New Zealand movie last year Born
To Dance will get its eagerly awaited DVD and
Blu-ray release on March 30. The country’s first
ever hip hop dance movie grossed more than
$1.1million at the NZ box office and tells the story
of a teenager (played by Tia-Taharoa Maipi) who is
torn between his dream of joining a professional
crew and his loyalty to his South Auckland
posse. The film also stars
pop icon Stan Walker
and US actress/dancer
Kerington Payne, while
the choreography is by the
renowned Parris Goebel,
who, along with Maipi, is
a member of three-time
world hip hop champions
the Royal Crew.
Hunt for theWilderpeople
Mahana
Chief Gary