Films & Events
The Strength of Water
Childhood, sudden death, Maori culture, and rugged New Zealand scenery make a potent mix in The Strength of Water. This naturalistic melodrama taps a restrained undertow of magic realism to tell the story of ten-year-old twin brother and sister, Kimi and Melody, who live on a chicken farm with several other siblings and their hard-working parents in a secluded Maori community. The twins befriend Tai, a solitary young man who moves into the neighboring dilapidated house of his dead grandfather. But when Tai and Melody take refuge from a barking dog, tragedy strikes unexpectedly, sending the film on a surprising course. With its picture of a blue-collar Maori community eking out a hard living, director Armagan Ballantyne's Sundance-developed feature has some things in common with Niki Caro’s Whale Rider, although with more muted tones and less child-friendly fare. The use of local inhabitants instead of professional actors lends the film an authenticity that befits the beautiful and raw nature among which it unfolds.
Sponsors:
Longhouse Media, Seattle - Christchurch Sister City Association
Cast & Crew
Director: Armagan Ballantyne
Producer: Fiona Copland, Karl Baumgartner, Raimond Goebel
Editor: Elizabeth Kling
Screenwriter: Briar Grace-Smith
Cinematographer: Bogumil Godfrejow
Music: Peter Golub, Warren Maxwell
Principal Cast: Hato Paparoa, Melanie Mayall-Nahi, Nancy Brunning, Isaac Barber, Pare Paseka, Jim Moriarty
Filmography: Debut Feature Film
World Sales: New Zealand Film Commission
Average rating:
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user reviews
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A Nice Kiwi/Maori Education, May 25, 2009
By Brad Hogle
“Overall I enjoyed this film. It might have felt like a made-for-TV movie if done here in the U.S., but the New Zealand scenery and the outstanding use of the local Maori people instead of professional actors (which included the light or no use of makeup and therefore letting us seeing them "au”
… full review
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Tearjerker set in beautiful NZ scenery, Jun 02, 2009
By Jean Yang
“Beautiful ocean-side scenery. Natural lighting. Good acting.
The main theme of the movie is how a young child copes with loss. (I don't think this spoils any more than the SIFF synopsis!) Several scenes brought me to tears.
Why not more stars? I felt there were various subplots in the movie”
… full review
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