The Whole of the Moon

New Zealand film maker Ian Mune tackles the medical problem of cancer and youth - a subject hardly conducive to user-friendly cinema entertainment - and welcomely manages to avoid familiar audience manipulation that might otherwise potentially drown the flick in sentiment. It's low budget and most of it centers on the growing friendship between two cancer afflicted teenagers in a hospital ward. The problem is, that the performances are so mediocre, and the script too ordinary (in that unmistakeably New Zealand fashion for no frills dialog) that the viewer struggles to engage with the characters with any convincing sense of emotional involvement. Good intentions are simply not enough to drum up audience interest in what amounts to generally tedious viewing.

This is a fine little film that didn't get the promotion or publicity it deserved, not even here in NZ where it was made. It's a sensitive portrayal of two very different kids struggling to cope with illness, self-esteem, and relationships that only occasionally lapses into cliche. Nikki Si'Ulepa is excellent as the cheeky, street-wise Marty--she picked up a NZ award for her role--and middle-class-ordinary-teenager Kirk Mead puts in a solid performance as the kid who thinks he has everything to lose, and nothing to live for. There are some lovely images (especially up on the roof), and the scene of the two riding on the prow of the yacht predates Titanic. A good film for teenagers who aren't too cynical about this sort of story. Applause, too, for director Ian Mune who made a fine, honest film here on a little budget.

It was (is) a very well made and especially played movie. I think it's way too underrated and you can't find a copy of it on DVD or VHS which proves that mainstream shows are and always gonna be more "important". Just look at the fact that you can buy EVERY episode of "Buffy..." but you can't find ONE copy of this movie. Sad.

Waiting.

If you like real life dramas, check this out.