Hard News: When A City Falls
90 Responses
First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 Newer→ Last
-
This really isn’t good enough, Auckland.
YMMV, but it's not good enough that too many damn good documentaries are lucky if they do the Film Festival circuit and eventually wash up on DVD. (And, as depressingly usual, if they screen on television at all Maori is your best bet - Patu, Hoop Dreams and When We Were Kings immediately come to mind. Along with more good foreign "arthouse" movies than you shake an arty-farty stick at.)
-
So why was there a grand total of five of us in the theatre
Uh, zero publicity about the screening?
-
Because people go to the movies for escapist entertainment?
FWIW we actually went out Saturday evening to the movies - the first time for ages, since our kids were both away for the night. We didn't go to see this movie because it seemed like it falls into the "Once were Warriors" category - something you _should_ see, but don't expect to enjoy. It didn't seem to fit with our tone of it being a special date type evening. -
Russell Brown, in reply to
Uh, zero publicity about the screening?
Poorly timed publicity, perhaps. Media7 and Campbell Live covered it weeks ago, and while Gerard talked to Kim Hill on Saturday, listeners may have had other things on their minds.
-
I can't afford to go to the movies. I haven't been to any this year. It's an outrageous luxury that isn't even luxurious.
-
Sacha, in reply to
Media7 and Campbell Live covered it weeks ago
Did you say when and where the screening was? Must have missed that.
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
YMMV, but it’s not good enough that too many damn good documentaries are lucky if they do the Film Festival circuit and eventually wash up on DVD.
Oh, quite. But here's one, and important one, that actually got nationwide theatrical release. That seems worth supporting in itself.
-
Sacha, in reply to
I can't afford to go to the movies. I haven't been to any this year.
+1
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
Did you say when and where the screening was? Must have missed that.
Yes, but who can remember anything for four weeks these days?
-
Sacha, in reply to
Quite. Marketing a film doesn't usually consist of favourable one-off stories a month earlier.
-
Emma Hart, in reply to
We didn’t go to see this movie because it seemed like it falls into the “Once were Warriors” category – something you _should_ see, but don’t expect to enjoy. It didn’t seem to fit with our tone of it being a special date type evening.
Ah... My partner and I are considering going to see it on our anniversary on Thursday. Which would be kind of appropriate, because our first 'leaving the house' date? Was a screening of Once Were Warriors.
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
Ah… My partner and I are considering going to see it on our anniversary on Thursday. Which would be kind of appropriate, because our first ‘leaving the house’ date? Was a screening of Once Were Warriors
Good lord.
But you’ll be okay, I think. You’ll cry, but you’ll be okay.
Warning: the film was mixed down at Park Road Post, which has the most awesome sound facility in the Southern hemisphere. You may find the actual noise of the earthquakes disturbing.
-
Hebe,
Calder is right to say that the visits at the end of the film to look at reconstruction efforts in San Francisco, New Orleans and Portland (which suffered only the trauma of conventional urban decay) "seem jarring, not just because they are so fleeting. They make room for some high-sounding platitudes that are so conspicuously absent from the film as a whole."
The "clunky" bits were a deliberate attempt to raise the audience's eyes from what had happened to what could be, so people -- particularly in Christchurch -- would walk out of the movie feeling stronger and uplifted not traumatised by reliving some of the hardest days of our lives.
Gerard and my partner Greg and others worked together in March or April to reset the theme of the film for that reason: it had to add to our city's recovery not just redocument trauma. At that time it was an incredibly uplifting idea to be even tangentially involved with: every day people here were slowly finding out about
what they had lost as well as going through their own personal journeys through the mire; good news was hard to find and clung on to and polished when it was found. That is why the future became so important; the idea of reinvention not just rebuilding.I read the reviews and think "yeah that's a valid quibble" but that's an intellectual exercise; not really relevant to living through it all. I'll be one of those old bats who harks back to the Blitz; it wasn't the best of times, but it was a tranformative time and showed what sort of person I and the people around me are at core.
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
The “clunky” bits were a deliberate attempt to raise the audience’s eyes from what had happened to what could be, so people – particularly in Christchurch – would walk out of the movie feeling stronger and uplifted not traumatised by reliving some of the hardest days of our lives.
Yes, and I know that was a very important element of the film, but I think it could have been achieved better. Maybe just via one compelling figure saying it, rather than the detour off to three other places.
I read the reviews and think “yeah that’s a valid quibble” but that’s an intellectual exercise; not really relevant to living through it all. I’ll be one of those old bats who harks back to the Blitz; it wasn’t the best of times, but it was a tranformative time and showed what sort of person I and the people around me are at core.
Very nicely put.
-
Hebe, in reply to
Ah... My partner and I are considering going to see it on our anniversary on Thursday. Which would be kind of appropriate, because our first 'leaving the house' date? Was a screening of Once Were Warriors
I reluctantly went to the premiere (yep I wuz scared) and it was very worthwhile. I came out up, not down, so I don't think it's daft as an anniversary date at all. I'm with Russell on the noise of the earthquakes: I did the mature thing, having been warned that the bits of earthquake noise were very realistic, and put earplugs in for the first bit. I think I just shut out everything apart from dialogue because everyone says the music is great, but I don't remember any of it. I didn't have the crap sleep I expected that night either.
-
Emma Hart, in reply to
You may find the actual noise of the earthquakes disturbing.
Just as well I've already had a run at that then, because yes, that noise provokes a really visceral reaction.
But you’ll be okay, I think. You’ll cry, but you’ll be okay.
Yeah, we've met, haven't we? That is, indeed, My Thing. On the weekend we're doing the walk into the Square and the Red Zone bus tour. Which might seem a bit mad all at once, but we had to wait until after our son had finished exams, and the election was over. And I'll get through it because I have something to look forward to. Yes, I am going to Wellington again next month...
-
Is there any idea when it will be out on DVD/available to expats? For obvious reasons I very much want to see it, but there's no way I'll be in NZ while it's on theatrical release.
-
tThis really isn't good enough, Auckland
They know how it ends?
Maybe but I will being making the effort to see this.
We had to make a few deliveries around the city a couple of weeks ago, it is heart breaking to see what has gone and the damage to the infrastructure -
Craig Ranapia, in reply to
That seems worth supporting in itself.
It does - and I'm probably going to have to haul arse and see it some time this week (before heading off to Taupo for a family wedding).
I'd also like to encourage people to go completely crazy and not only go see O Le Tulafale (The Orator) (if you haven't already - why not?) but buy the DVD, which is due out just in time for discerning Christmas shopping. (Also consider buying Roseanne Liang's wonderful My Wedding and Other Secrets__ -- this year's local rom-com that didn't suck a duck.)
If you want theatres and distributors to commit to films like this, you've got to show them the money (to coin a phrase)! :)
-
Hebe, in reply to
Have a look at the Facebook page for When A City Falls. News like that is on there; from memory next year.
-
Craig Ranapia, in reply to
I read the reviews and think “yeah that’s a valid quibble” but that’s an intellectual exercise; not really relevant to living through it all.
Completely get where you're coming from, Hebe - but I'd argue that it's more than an intellectual exercise to say that when we forget our history (or wrap it up in distortions, sentimental myths or flat out disaster-porn) we don't honour it. I'd like to think this movie will be around long after we're all dead and gone; and the respect we pay those who've gone before us is to do our very best to see them - and each other - with a clear eye.
-
I'd also like to encourage people to go completely crazy and not only go see O Le Tulafale (The Orator) (if you haven't already - why not?) but buy the DVD, which is due out just in time for discerning Christmas shopping. (Also consider buying Roseanne Liang's wonderful My Wedding and Other Secrets__ -- this year's local rom-com that didn't suck a duck.)
Yes, both are excellent films, particularly The Orator which uses film very well to tell its story.
-
Ian Dalziel, in reply to
Speaking of ovoids (see below)…
the attached pic is of the Richmond Bowling Club (in my street) which was to have been the site of Chchch’s first PA Great Blend event…
a sad sight now (photo taken yesterday)…Which would be kind of appropriate, because our first ‘leaving the house’ date? Was a screening of Once Were Warriors.
Can’t make an omelette with out breaking eggs, eh?
-
Craig Ranapia, in reply to
Yes, both are excellent films, particularly The Orator which uses film very well to tell its story.
If Leon Narbey is capable of shooting an ugly or dull frame, he's hidden the evidence very well. The production values on The Orator just prove that a big budget is no substitute for craft and creativity born out of limitations.
-
Yes, I'd like to add my encouragement to go and see the Orator - one of the best films I've seen this year
Post your response…
This topic is closed.