Operation 8 examines the so-called 'anti-terror' raids that took place around New Zealand on October 15, 2007 - asking how and why they took place and at what cost to those targeted.
A documentary exploring the human-cat love story amidst a movement to eradicate cats in New Zealand.
Olympic Champion, Kiwi Icon, Tongan Leader, Orphan, Mother...winning was just part of the journey.
This chronicle of the Christchurch Commonwealth Games marked one of the National Film Unit's most ambitious productions. Though a range of events (including famous runs by John Walker and Dick Tayler), are covered, the film often bypasses the pomp and glory approach; instead it dares to talk to the injured and mention that most competitors lose. The closing ceremonies of the "friendly games" feature the athletes gathering to — as the official song's chorus put it — "join together". Four directors joined together to work on it: Arthur Everard, John King, Paul Maunder and Sam Pillsbury.
Someone Else’s Country looks critically at the radical economic changes implemented by the 1984 Labour Government - where privatisation of state assets was part of a wider agenda that sought to remake New Zealand as a model free market state. The trickle-down ‘Rogernomics’ rhetoric warned of no gain without pain, and here the theory is counterpointed by the social effects (redundant workers, Post Office closures). Made by Alister Barry in 1996 when the effects were raw, the film draws extensively on archive footage and interviews with key “witnesses to history”.
The story of unemployment in New Zealand and In A Land of Plenty is an exploration of just that; it takes as its starting point the consensus from The Depression onwards that Godzone economic policy should focus on achieving full employment, and explores how this was radically shifted by the 1984 Labour government. Director Alister Barry's perspective is clear, as he trains a humanist lens on ‘Rogernomics' to argue for the policy's negative effects on society, as a new poverty-stricken underclass developed.
A short documentary about freestyle skiing made for the New Zealand Tourist and Publicity Department.
BEYOND CONVERSION is a deep-dive into conversion therapy in Aotearoa through the eyes of Kiwi conversion therapy survivors.
A visual essay on contemporary Kiwi architecture.
Walter Röhrl - Genie am Lenkrad
Leaky home experts John Gray and Roger Levie uncover the shocking truth about the dreadful and dangerous state of many apartment buildings in New Zealand. Buildings that look sound turn out to be seriously defective, costing millions to fix, and in the worst cases, only fit to be pulled down. The owners who thought they were making a good step on the property ladder, now find themselves faced with an emotional and financial cost that will affect the rest of their lives. How did this building disaster come about and can it be fixed?
When an academic unearths a forgotten history, residents of the small township of Pukekohe, including kaumātua who have never told their personal stories before, confront its deep and dark racist past.
Peter Brock, the "King of the Mountain", comes out of retirement for a one off race in hopes he can clinch his 10th Bathurst title. This documentary explores from the first question through the decision and finally to the race itself.
Monaco, le Grand Prix à tout prix
An inspiring journey of passion, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.
Motocross stars Mike Metzger and Seth Enslow are among the many riders featured in this homage to their favorite sport. Background music is provided by such groups as White Zombie, the Offspring, Agent Orange, and Ministry. The stunts, tricks, and skits these riders perform take place in Florida, California, Nevada, and Brazil. Many of the rides include the types of jumps and other maneuvers that.
Ennio Zani, a former rider and mechanic, remembers in his workshop the story of the first motorcycle racing team ever in the Republic of San Marino, a little independent country located in the Italian peninsula. The story of his childhood, when he gets in touch with bikes and starts to work as a mechanic, is the previous part of a story that involves other riders and motorcycle lovers from the late 50s, like his brother Italo, Glauco Sansovini, Piergiovanni Volpinari, Glulio Manzaroli and Alfio Beccari. Through interviews, vintage photos and old videos, a lot of crazy anecdotes describe the spirit and the passion of the racing team. The protagonists explain how the first motorcycles were built (using old scrap parts), how they organized the first road races, how they built the first motocross track in San Marino, how they fought against rivals all around Italy, supported by their love for this sport but with no money at all.
Crusty Demons of Dirt, Vol. 2 features many of the top riders in motocross performing some of their riskiest jumps and tricks. Seth Enslow, Joel Albrecht, Jeff Emig, and Ryan Hughes all ride their favorite bikes in such locales as California, Oregon, Nevada, South Africa, and Namibia. Additional stunts and skits are also performed by Jeff Matiasevich, Brian Deegan, and Mike Metzger. The cameras ar
A Lord of the Rings tour guide in New Zealand processes his grief in a wonderful way.
A third generation NZ born Niuean Female surfer, visits her Island of heritage for the first time only to discover there is no surf on Niue. But Mella's visit opens her eyes to the island's other beautiful qualities, the magical water, warm people, and clean unpolluted land. However she also discovers the low population has left the countries future hanging by a thread. This documentary is a record of Mella's journey to regaining her identity and first steps at becoming part of the solution in Niue's restoration of itself.