As I’m in New Zealand over April, so thought I’d put the spotlight on three filmmakers I admire who happen to hale from the country I'm visiting.
Taika Waititi, the director that everyone has been talking about in the last few years after a succession of hits. 'What We Do in Shadows' brought vampires back to the light in the form of a mockumentary about three vampire roommates living in Wellington. 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople', my favourite film of 2016 about a troubled teenage boy and his foster uncle who are a tragedy and misunderstanding end up on the run in the bush with the authorities in pursuit. Finally, the film that the Marvel Universe needed to reboot within the God of Thunder, 'Thor: Ragnarok' was a hilarious edition to the stream of movies and stood out from the rest. Waititi’s unique style, deadpan humour and natural dare to be different filmmaking is what makes him a great writer and director.
Jane Campion obviously needs to be brought to the spotlight, especially with the sequel to the fantastic thriller mystery, Top of the Lake aired on TV last year. Continuing the dark side of the first series, Top of the Lake: China Girl delves deeper into lead character, traumatised detective Robin, who investigates the seedy disturbing ring of illegal surrogates and prostitution after a young girl’s body is found in a suitcase washed up on the beach in Sydney. While the show is brilliant TV, I wish Campion would come back to the big screen. After revisiting ‘In the Cut’ at a screening and Q&A with the director herself, her interpretation of the novel of the same name is a murder mystery erotic thriller that is pieced together sometimes as a stream of consciousness from Franny’s, played by Meg Ryan, point of view.
If I’m talking about New Zealand filmmakers, I have to talk about Peter Jackson, director of the greatest trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. Not familiar with Jackson’s previous films before 2001, but I have made sure that Heavenly Creatures is in my Blind Spot list this year. I’ve seen some of his other films since LOTR and enjoyed The Hobbit film but nothing truly compares to his ‘stand the test of time’ adaptations. Every time I see the films, a pilgrimage every year, my breath is taken away.