Starlight Hotel

so when i was eight this film came out. i don't remember much about it. crazy thing: though i remember nothing about it. not even that it was set in new Zealand. i remember liking the characters and believing in whatever their adventure was. i'd grown up watching old films on the weekends with my grandfather and had seen a lot of movies for a kid my age but for some reason watching this film i said: "i have to-have to-make films like this! and i can, i just need the means." well years later i'm an indie-director and have just embarked on the process of actually having one of my scripts optioned and sold... for no reason at all i was walking home tonight from a script meeting and this film popped into my head after nearly 20 years! i plan to rent it soon and will probably be embarrassed by it's quality or lack there of but hey, i think i can say it had a big influence on my journey to wherever i'm going... heh. oh well.

just thought i'd post this before i had the chance to regret it.

1930s New Zealand.

Really good film. Very atmospheric with some interesting cinematography.

A tale of an unlikely couple. One running away and one running to.

One thing I don't really understand is that the journey on the South Island gives the impression of being across and almost a barren and parched wasteland, which it isn't at all.

The story is an odyssey, in which the director (Sam Pillsbury) airs his sense of social injustices, but in a reasonably gentle style (although the protest isn't gentle). The film also speaks to us in another age, far removed from depression era, post-WWI, New Zealand, though in fact, very little seems to have actually changed. After all, here in 21st century America, the poor are still being evicted and dumped onto the streets, soldiers are still send to fight and die for dubious (and fictitious) causes, while their veteran's benefits are slashed and their enlistment contracts are ignored. Far too many people must still seek medical help in charity institutions. Yet all the while we have to listen to the insufferable platitudes of officials declaring the wonders of the human condition in this great and wonderful land, while perhaps as many as 20 million American children will go to bed hungry tonight. Somewhere in this (not totally perfect) little treasure is a wry sense of humor between the embittered war-veteran (Peter Phelps) and the runaway teenage girl (Greer Robson, a great beauty, now a bit more grownup than the little girl who played the late and great Bruno Lawrence's daughter in "Smash Palace (1981)", now available on DVD). Their growing affection, in light of their mutual dependence on each other, provides the hint of a love story. I have always been very fond (sentimentally so, I admit) of this almost unknown little film. Unfortunately, now available only on previously viewed videotape, from private sellers (in the USA, see Amazon.com third-party sellers).

I found this movie to be a really good and uplifting film. It features a couple on the lam from various unjustices in life during depression-era New Zealand and does a good job in all areas, including character development and good and interesting situations. You might like this film if you can find it. I liked it.

*** out of ****

It's hard economic times in New Zealand amidst the 1930s depression, so a man leaves home to find work in Wellington. His young daughter doesn't want to be left behind, so she leaves home herself to reunite with him. She soon teams up with a man being chased by the law, and on the run to Australia. At first neither are enthused about each other's company, but a series of challenges eventually results in a good working relationship. It's a completely platonic one, however.

Lots of adventures during their odyssey, and plenty of interesting people along the way. Exceptional performances by both Greer Robson-Kirk and Peter Phelps make their characters believable and interesting.

One issue with this movie is it has too many subplots. Perhaps the screenwriter added segments so more New Zealand actors could get exposure in a locally-made production. Several of the segments added little to the story, however, but did cost it momentum.