When Arthur, self-proclaimed son of God, sets off on a mission to find the Queen of Heaven, his world changes.When Arthur, self-proclaimed son of God, sets off on a mission to find the Queen of Heaven, his world changes.When Arthur, self-proclaimed son of God, sets off on a mission to find the Queen of Heaven, his world changes.
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Featured reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful movie. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me think. I came away feeling like I had a better understanding of people after seeing it. Miracles really can happen if you give them a chance. It is a real credit to the New Zealand Movie industry. A truly memorable movie and one that I consider one of New Zealand's best yet. I don't watch many movies more than once, but this is one I would happily revisit. We were very fortunate to have present at our screening, the director and her husband. It was interesting to learn the story was written 13 years ago, and even back then the author envisaged it becoming a movie one day. A movie everyone should see!
God works in funny ways. If the first son of God could turn water into wine, Arthur the self-proclaimed second son can make stony hearts beat again. This is an inspired film. A story of psychiatric patients in a boarding house that doesn't fit into a suburb with pretensions, sounds unpromising but magically they are revealed as very real people by an excellent script and stunning performances from all the leads which draw one in. To say it is moving, witty, and very funny doesn't do it justice. That it took eight years to produce, and after funding was withdrawn was produced on a very low budget may in hindsight have helped. One senses that it is the work of people who believed in it passionately, and put their hearts and genius into it. It shows.
There seemed a very good atmosphere in the audience at the Cineworld, Haymarket, London, especially as we were treated to an intro talk on the THE INSATIABLE MOON by first-time film Director Rosemary Riddell. Also in the audience were the Deputy New Zealand High Commissioner and Lord Justice Thorpe.
THE INSATIABLE MOON took almost ten years in the making is set in New Zealand and tells the tale of a bunch of mentally impaired misfits that dwell in a boarding house within the local community of Ponsonby much like an "extended family of outcasts" much to the dismay of many of the residents.
There are activists within the community that would like to close the commune down, sell the property and move the residents away from their town.
The main-stay of the commune is the very down to earth "street-talking" Bob Davis (played admirably by Greg Johnson) – who likes to "tell it like it is" and against all trials and tribulations, it is his efforts that keep the "family" together.
There are a bunch of weird characters within the commune – the most notable being Arthur (play superbly by Maori actor Rawiri Paratene – who had a starring role in the Oscar nominated Whale Rider). Arthur truly believes that he is the second son of God and his charisma is such, that it tends to convince some of those he meets that there may be something in his claims.
A side story to the plot concerns the kind hearted Margaret (Sara Wiseman) who is having emotional issues in her marriage in her overwhelming desire to cope with getting pregnant in a loveless marriage, who falls for the "purity" of Arthur's crusade to save the boarding house from being taken over and she eventually falls for Arthur
There are some good comic moments and some very sad moments due to the subject matter but, putting these moments aside, this is at it's heart a story about community bonding and stresses that however "outcast" you may be you can still find a "family" a "home" where you can be welcomed and that together you are stronger than if you are alone
After the presentation we were invited to stay after the film for a Q&A session with two of the film's producers (one who was Mike Riddell the Directors husband and Scriptwriter for the movie), the director and Rawiri Paratene – who played the lead role of Arthur in the movie.
After which several of the New Zealanders in the audience gave a very welcomed impromptu sing-along / chants / dance session in tribute to the film and for what it stands for it was a good night
Taglines: Sometimes you have to let go and see where you end up
In a mad world, only the mad are sane
I would say that THE INSATIABLE MOON would not cater to all tastes and it would possibly help it you had an interest in New Zealand and the Maori culture but those who do see it may have their eyes opened to another way of thinking which can only be a good thing for all
THE INSATIABLE MOON is 100mins long, is possibly more suited to adults because of the subject matter and will be on general release from 7th October, 2010
THE INSATIABLE MOON took almost ten years in the making is set in New Zealand and tells the tale of a bunch of mentally impaired misfits that dwell in a boarding house within the local community of Ponsonby much like an "extended family of outcasts" much to the dismay of many of the residents.
There are activists within the community that would like to close the commune down, sell the property and move the residents away from their town.
The main-stay of the commune is the very down to earth "street-talking" Bob Davis (played admirably by Greg Johnson) – who likes to "tell it like it is" and against all trials and tribulations, it is his efforts that keep the "family" together.
There are a bunch of weird characters within the commune – the most notable being Arthur (play superbly by Maori actor Rawiri Paratene – who had a starring role in the Oscar nominated Whale Rider). Arthur truly believes that he is the second son of God and his charisma is such, that it tends to convince some of those he meets that there may be something in his claims.
A side story to the plot concerns the kind hearted Margaret (Sara Wiseman) who is having emotional issues in her marriage in her overwhelming desire to cope with getting pregnant in a loveless marriage, who falls for the "purity" of Arthur's crusade to save the boarding house from being taken over and she eventually falls for Arthur
There are some good comic moments and some very sad moments due to the subject matter but, putting these moments aside, this is at it's heart a story about community bonding and stresses that however "outcast" you may be you can still find a "family" a "home" where you can be welcomed and that together you are stronger than if you are alone
After the presentation we were invited to stay after the film for a Q&A session with two of the film's producers (one who was Mike Riddell the Directors husband and Scriptwriter for the movie), the director and Rawiri Paratene – who played the lead role of Arthur in the movie.
After which several of the New Zealanders in the audience gave a very welcomed impromptu sing-along / chants / dance session in tribute to the film and for what it stands for it was a good night
Taglines: Sometimes you have to let go and see where you end up
In a mad world, only the mad are sane
I would say that THE INSATIABLE MOON would not cater to all tastes and it would possibly help it you had an interest in New Zealand and the Maori culture but those who do see it may have their eyes opened to another way of thinking which can only be a good thing for all
THE INSATIABLE MOON is 100mins long, is possibly more suited to adults because of the subject matter and will be on general release from 7th October, 2010
I'm glad I caught this film at Birmingham's famous Midlands Art Centre a few nights ago. A couple of the film's producers were on hand to conduct a Q&A. They told us how difficult it was to make the film, not least due to the dreaded 'f' word (funding). In the end it took nigh on eight years to be cinematised. The film paints a poignant picture of the perception society has towards people who have the misfortune to be mentally afflicted.
A group of residents, some with mental health problems, others simply destitute, face homelessness because the local council wants their property, on the grounds of overcrowding. When told that this move would lead to the residents being released into the community, the Ponsonby (New Zealand) locals are outraged. They cannot countenance living alongside such unpredictable people.
At the centre of this story is a Maori named Arthur (Rawiri Paratene, most famous for 2002's 'Whale Rider') who insists he is the second son of God. He walks around shoeless, smiling at everyone and high-fiving friends. His mental illness cannot suppress his happiness.
Arthur's constant state of ecstasy, we learn, is in anticipation of meeting his 'Queen of Heaven'. This turns out to be Margaret (Sara Wiseman), Arthur's complete antithesis. Although sane, she couldn't be unhappier. She is desperately trying to conceive a baby with a husband who prefers real tennis to the bedroom kind.
The film was made on a shoestring and you can tell. But that's not really a problem. You don't need a big budget to tell this kind of story. In fact, that might be a distraction. A small production forces the actors to make the film. And they do, particularly Paratene and Wiseman who make us believe in their very unlikely bond.
There's a sad scene where a brain-damaged character wrestles against himself to avoid abusing two young girls. He knows he can't control himself, so he commits suicide. That's mental illness. There are some touching scenes which will nudge, if not move you. Black comedy helps the story greatly. There's an unpredictable twist, though I would have done without the 'Being There' reference. One of the themes seems to be that God works in mysterious ways - but so can people.
We're forced to contend with the rational argument that afflicted people aren't abnormal. Disease couldn't be more natural. I'm willing to bet that we all know someone who has some affliction or other. The variety of diseases and the chance of contracting one during one's lifetime are mind-blowing. There is no point in disowning someone on the basis of their mental state. I feel the same way about sexuality and all other ways to profile a human.
Films about mental illness are starting to appear at a higher frequency, but it will be some time before they are accepted as readily as any other genre. If there are people out there who still can't accept vulnerable people like those in this film (and we know there are, otherwise why else was this film made?), I urge them to see this film because it may compel them to see things differently.
www.moseleyb13.com
A group of residents, some with mental health problems, others simply destitute, face homelessness because the local council wants their property, on the grounds of overcrowding. When told that this move would lead to the residents being released into the community, the Ponsonby (New Zealand) locals are outraged. They cannot countenance living alongside such unpredictable people.
At the centre of this story is a Maori named Arthur (Rawiri Paratene, most famous for 2002's 'Whale Rider') who insists he is the second son of God. He walks around shoeless, smiling at everyone and high-fiving friends. His mental illness cannot suppress his happiness.
Arthur's constant state of ecstasy, we learn, is in anticipation of meeting his 'Queen of Heaven'. This turns out to be Margaret (Sara Wiseman), Arthur's complete antithesis. Although sane, she couldn't be unhappier. She is desperately trying to conceive a baby with a husband who prefers real tennis to the bedroom kind.
The film was made on a shoestring and you can tell. But that's not really a problem. You don't need a big budget to tell this kind of story. In fact, that might be a distraction. A small production forces the actors to make the film. And they do, particularly Paratene and Wiseman who make us believe in their very unlikely bond.
There's a sad scene where a brain-damaged character wrestles against himself to avoid abusing two young girls. He knows he can't control himself, so he commits suicide. That's mental illness. There are some touching scenes which will nudge, if not move you. Black comedy helps the story greatly. There's an unpredictable twist, though I would have done without the 'Being There' reference. One of the themes seems to be that God works in mysterious ways - but so can people.
We're forced to contend with the rational argument that afflicted people aren't abnormal. Disease couldn't be more natural. I'm willing to bet that we all know someone who has some affliction or other. The variety of diseases and the chance of contracting one during one's lifetime are mind-blowing. There is no point in disowning someone on the basis of their mental state. I feel the same way about sexuality and all other ways to profile a human.
Films about mental illness are starting to appear at a higher frequency, but it will be some time before they are accepted as readily as any other genre. If there are people out there who still can't accept vulnerable people like those in this film (and we know there are, otherwise why else was this film made?), I urge them to see this film because it may compel them to see things differently.
www.moseleyb13.com
Something completely different from New Zealand; a cross between "One Flea Over The Cuckoo's Nest" and "Being There" although not as good as either of them but still watchable nonetheless.
Arthur(Rawiri Paratene) lives in a home for the mentally handicapped and he is convinced that he
is the second son of God. Those around him are not quite sure due to his uncanny intuitiveness. By the end of this imaginative film, the audience will also question the sanity of Arthur.
Rawiri Paratene gives a remarkable performance, one of my favorites this year along with Brendan
Gleeson in "The Guard" from Ireland.
The entire cast is very good and the story moves along, straddling the line between comedy and
drama. Writer Mark Riddell keeps us guessing to the end.
Arthur(Rawiri Paratene) lives in a home for the mentally handicapped and he is convinced that he
is the second son of God. Those around him are not quite sure due to his uncanny intuitiveness. By the end of this imaginative film, the audience will also question the sanity of Arthur.
Rawiri Paratene gives a remarkable performance, one of my favorites this year along with Brendan
Gleeson in "The Guard" from Ireland.
The entire cast is very good and the story moves along, straddling the line between comedy and
drama. Writer Mark Riddell keeps us guessing to the end.
Did you know
- Crazy credits[prior to opening credits] Inspired by Arthur of Ponsoby.
- SoundtracksThe Sound
Written and performed by Luke Hurley
Details
Box office
- Budget
- NZ$980,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $143,475
- Runtime
- 1h 41m(101 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1 / (high definition)
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