In the wake of the loss of his beloved wife, a rural community rallies around a farmer to help him deal with his grief.In the wake of the loss of his beloved wife, a rural community rallies around a farmer to help him deal with his grief.In the wake of the loss of his beloved wife, a rural community rallies around a farmer to help him deal with his grief.
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- 1 win & 3 nominations total
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Featured reviews
Stunning film that just drips with real. Nothing showy - nothing over done - just community and family life that pulls you in as an observer. Just totally wraps you in a blanket of living. So beautifully scripted, acted and directed. It moves you in such a profound way but at the same time it is that favourite pie you eat for lunch. Comforting but different, expected but unexpected....
Hunt for the Wilder People meets all Creatures Great and Small.
Not really.
There are some light moments but this film is not a feel good movie. It is essentially about grief and having to overcome what can't be fixed in the back blocks on a dairy farm in Northland, New Zealand.
The cast includes Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilder People) and Marshall Napier (McLeod's Daughters). Cohen Holloway is excellent as Bruce.
As ever with NZ, the scenery and setting holds the attention no matter what the storyline is.
Not really.
There are some light moments but this film is not a feel good movie. It is essentially about grief and having to overcome what can't be fixed in the back blocks on a dairy farm in Northland, New Zealand.
The cast includes Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilder People) and Marshall Napier (McLeod's Daughters). Cohen Holloway is excellent as Bruce.
As ever with NZ, the scenery and setting holds the attention no matter what the storyline is.
It's true that this is a slow burner, and its story is woven with care and attention to detail. Some of the actors are not known to me, but some were familiar faces - a good mix. I did feel a similarity to Hunt for the Wilder people to start with, but that soon went on its way, and it wandered along its own path. I found I was engrossed and anxious that nothing would interrupt my viewing - and the scenery and birdsong were beautiful. The characters were particularly well-drawn and the rural community were obviously written by someone who knows them well, and portrayed accurately too. I have seen some very good NZ productions over the past few years and this has to be up there with the best - perhaps I might edit it to a 10 after a second viewing. (I must ask someone about Cows' sense of humour though)
Its wasnt a bad movie, but rather slow with little actually happening. The older main character was hard to relate to as he was essentially a silent cipher, the other characters had more life to them. If gives a glimpse of life on a kiwi farm and deals with loss and the passing of each generation with a tragicomedic eye.
Less is more they say, and that holds true for this simple, honest film.
Having lived in rural NZ for a number of years, the film evoked a lot of memories, and captured both the stoicism and the warmth of rural communities in New Zealand.
I loved this film for it's sincerity.
Yes it is slow. Yes it is simple. But it'll put a smile on your face, and some warmth in your heart.
Having lived in rural NZ for a number of years, the film evoked a lot of memories, and captured both the stoicism and the warmth of rural communities in New Zealand.
I loved this film for it's sincerity.
Yes it is slow. Yes it is simple. But it'll put a smile on your face, and some warmth in your heart.
Did you know
- TriviaBellbird follows on from Hamish Bennett's award-winning short film Ross & Beth (2014).
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Northland
- Filming locations
- Maungakaramea, New Zealand(location)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $706,143
- Runtime
- 1h 36m(96 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
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