
If you see one movie this weekend, make it Good for Nothing.
It is a funny, smart and entertaining western.
But, here's the twist, it was made by Kiwis and Central Otago stands in for the American Old West.
It may look and sound like a western, but there is no doubting its Kiwi origins. Just as Italian directors filtered their national sensibilities into 'spaghetti westerns', Dunedin-born director Mike Wallis has done the same for New Zealand in his 'pavlova western'.
Good for Nothing has a sense of irreverence and absurd humour that I associate with the Kiwi identity.
But, I have a confession to make. I am British.
I moved to New Zealand almost six years to the day and became a New Zealand citizen last year.
But, what are the films I should see before I can really call myself a Kiwi and what will they tell me about New Zealand?
Obviously, I saw a lot of New Zealand films before I moved here and have seen a lot more since. I feel like I have seen the more significant films from everything by Peter Jackson to The Quiet Earth and Goodbye Pork Pie to The Piano. But there will probably be some iconic Kiwi films that I haven't seen.
Let me know what I am missing. What are the more obscure films that I won't have seen?
Also, what do you think these films will tell me about New Zealand identity and culture?
Is Sam Neill correct when he said in his 90s documentary that Kiwi movies are defined by an unerring sense of ''unease'', or have we all lightened up a bit since then?
I think British film critic Mark Kermode summarised Neil's theory on Kiwi cinema quite well. He said that all Kiwi films have this central theme: "If we stay here we'll go mad or if we get out of here we'll go mad.''
Is that still true?
From my experience of Kiwi movies, and this is a bit of a cliched observation about New Zealand art, there is definitely a darkness in tone.
Heavenly Creatures, one of the best Kiwi films I have seen and certainly Peter Jackson's best, has a fantastic sense of gothic darkness that you can see at work in other Kiwi films.
I was also surprised by how much darkness there was in a more recent feelgood hit like Boy. It was ostensibly a comedy, but it was full of sadness.
So, set me some homework. Let me know what films will make me a Kiwi.
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