Cinema of Unease video

 Cinema of Unease still

Cinema of Unease - 1995




BFI/Top Shelf Productions - 56 min.

Writers/Directors: Sam Neill, Judy Rymer; Editor: Michael Horton; Music: Don McGlashan; Photography: Alun Bollinger, Producers: Paula Jalfon, Grant Campbell. Executive Producers: Vincent Burke, Colin MacCabe, Bob Last.

A subjective and partial, but nevertheless very useful resume of New Zealand feature film productions , with Sam Neill as guide. Made as part of a British series commemorating a century of cinema. In it Neill presents his reminiscences of cinema-going from the 1950's, and his interpretations of various New Zealand feature films made since then, particularly in respect of what he sees them reflecting of New Zealand society. Thirty-three titles are represented within the 60 clips contained. Highly recommended.

Censor Rating: PG - Review Rating: B


AVAILABILITY OF VHS OR DVD COPIES

Available in VHS PAL format from UK sources for about 20# and New Zealand sources for $40nz which also includes a related Australian docu, '40,000 Years of Dreaming'. One Canadian source listed having it for $27us. There are no known DVDs. There are no known sources for new NTSC copies, although used copies do exist which is "double billed" with 'Forgotten Silver'.


SOUNDTRACK ON AUDIO CD

There are no known soundtrack CDs of this title.


REVIEWS - AWARDS - MISC

Matthew Kiernan Review

Time Out Review

IMDB User Comments

Four Word Film Review

Sam Neill Audio Clips

Film Scouts Review

 Black Magic Review

Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide Review

'Actor, director and now autobiographer, Sam Neill interprets his New Zealand past to the world through our movies in this handsome contribution to the BFI's Century of Cinema series. A trip back in time for him, this film is also one for us, the once familiar case history of Anglophiliac cultural cringe. No commentary on the pakeha New Zealand psyche that counts sheep or cite Man Alone as seminal is breaking new ground, but Neill's observations are in complete harmony with recent perceptions of a New Zealand rife with madness and murder - a view of New Zealand long relished by Patrick White and now appearing in Sunday supplements around the world. There's evidence aplenty that movies, which thrive on violence, have had a major role in inverting the old cliches. Vivid scenes from New Zealand features - good, bad or wonderful illustrate Neill's response while reminding us how liberating it has been to see New Zealanders on the big screen.' (Twenty-fourth Wellington Film Festival catalogue, 1995)

"Cinema of Unease is part of the British Film Institute's international series The Century of Cinema where some of the world's most respected directors take a personal look at their national cinema, among them are Nagisa Oshima (Japan), Bernardo Bertolucci (Italy) Martin Scorsese (USA), l George Miller (Australia), Stephen Frears (British), Jean Luc Godard and Anne-Marie Melville (France), Mrinal Sen ( India), and Krzysztof Kieslowski (Poland)." from Top Shelf Winter catalogue 1996/7 pg 12.

1997 - Best Documentary - NZ Film and Television Awards


Alphabetical List * Chronological List * News * Soundtracks * Buy-Sell-Rent * DVD List

What is A New Zealand Feature Film * First Choices * Books * Misc * Links * Directors


Comments, suggestions or questions are welcomed at info@nospamnzvideos.org, but delete the nospam portion before sending