Mary Anne Roberts

Writer/director Paul Maunder's second drama after his award-winning Going Up North for a While is a portrait of a woman's mental health crisis. In part one Julie (Denise Maunder) is haunted by her birth mother's breakdown. Her inner monologue narrates events; Julie hopes marriage and a job will "cure" her, and falls pregnant. After a traumatic delivery, she suffers an acute episode and is admitted into care. Part two takes place in a psychiatric hospital where drugs, electroconvulsive therapy and art therapy were standard treatments at the time. Maunder undertook research at Auckland's Kingseat psychiatric hospital.

Written by Syrian artist Kinana Issa, the film explores the themes of liberation and captivity. It follows a woman whose journey of immigration is over, but whose suffering continues. The story gives voice to women who have been impacted by immigration. This was created as part of a series of three films.