NZ movie premiere to show at State Cinema

March 9th, 2016

Motueka's State Cinema will host a premiere red-carpet party and showing of Taika Waititi's new film "Hunt for the Wilderpeople", with proceeds going to the Community Swimming Pool project.

The movie, which was first shown to critical acclaim at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on January 22nd, is described by one reviewer as "equal parts road comedy and coming-of-age drama", and stars Sam Neill and Julian Dennison.

The premiere New Zealand showing will be held in Auckland on Wednesday March 30th, and Motueka's Mark Wentworth has arranged for a live feed from Auckland of the red carpet event with the actors and Taika Waititi arriving.

The Auckland video feed on March 30th will begin at 7.30pm, and the movie itself will start at 8.15pm. The movie is based on the book "Wild Pork and Watercress" by Barry Crump. It tells of defiant city kid Ricky, raised on hip-hop and foster care, who gets a fresh start in the New Zealand countryside.

He quickly finds himself at home with his new foster family - the loving Aunt Bella, the cantankerous Uncle Hec, and dog Tupac. When a tragedy strikes that threatens to ship Ricky to another home, both he and Hec go on the run in the bush.

As a national manhunt ensues, the newly branded outlaws must face their options - go out in a blaze of glory or overcome their differences and survive as a family.

Director Taika Waititi masterfully weaves lively humour with emotionally honest performances by the lead actors. Never short on laughs, this touching story reminds us about the journey that growing up is (at any age) and those who help us along the way.

A breakout performance from the young, hilarious Julian Dennison leads the way and an equally entertaining turn from Sam Neill just sweetens the deal.

The price is $18.00 per ticket, with net proceeds going to the project to transform the Motueka High School swimming pool into an indoor pool. There is a limit of 97 tickets available, and they are available from Motueka Floral Studio, two doors up from Westpac.

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