Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Illustrious Energy

This film has affected me like no others, it felt like a true depiction of a forgotten episode of New Zealand's history. I'm no historian so I don't know how accurate the story is, but what a bittersweet movie it is. Is today more rascist or the one in this movie being set in a Chinese mining camp in Otago in the late 1800's? The beauty though pervades in the central Chinese characters attitudes and philosophy.

aka Dreams Of Home (1987)
Chinese prospectors in the Central Otago goldfields in the 1860's.Director Leon Narbey
Original music - Jan Preston Percussion and voices - Don McGlashan
"The score, with its Chinese instruments and music, acts as a strong aural bridge between Eastern and Western cultures." (New Zealand Film 1912-1996)
1988 New Zealand Listener Film and Television Awards (amongst others): Best Music, Best Soundtrack.

No comments: