The Insatiable Moon
| The Insatiable Moon | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Rosemary Riddell |
| Produced by | Pip Piper Mike Riddell Rob Taylor |
| Screenplay by | Mike Riddell |
| Based on |
The Insatiable Moon by Mike Riddell |
| Starring |
Rawiri Paratene Sara Wiseman Ian Mune Greg Johnson |
| Music by | Neville Copland |
| Cinematography | Thomas Burstyn |
| Edited by | Paul Maxwell |
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Production
company |
Blue Hippo Media
Holy Bucket Productions |
| Distributed by | Rialto Distribution |
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Release date
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Running time
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99 minutes |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Language | English Māori |
| Budget |
NZ$460,000 (Varies between sources) |
The Insatiable Moon is a 2010 New Zealand drama film, based on a 1997 novel of the same name by Mike Riddell, who also wrote the screenplay. The film was directed by Rosemary Riddell, and stars Rawiri Paratene in the leading role as Arthur, self-proclaimed second son of God. Arthur sets off on a mission to find the 'Queen of Heaven', and finds her in Margaret (Sara Wiseman), just as the community boarding house he calls home faces threat.
The film focuses on themes around mental illness and discrimination, and draws on Mike Riddell's experiences working with those with mental health problems and those that are underprivileged. This is what both the novel and screenplay are based on. The film was shot in Ponsonby, a suburb of Auckland.
The film has been screened at Mental Health events, such as Mental Health Awareness Week in 2013.
Arthur is a Māori man, who sees himself as the second son of God, and works to enlighten those around him. Arthur is considered mentally ill, and lives in a Ponsonby boarding house, operated by the foul-mouthed but hard-working house manager Bob. His friends at the boarding house all have their share of problems, and view Arthur as a role model in many ways.
Arthur wanders the streets, searching for the 'Queen of Heaven', and finds her with community worker Margaret, during a chance encounter at a local cafe. Arthur returns to the boarding house, where the TV series 'Marae Investigates' are filming, and they speak to him as part of a series on boarding houses in the area. Margaret and Arthur meet again at the funeral of one of Arthur's friends, a man with mental problems who commits suicide. Margaret attends in the place of her colleague, who feels guilty as she turned the man away from the community centre because she could not understand him. After the funeral, Arthur invites Margaret back to the boarding house, and introduces her to Bob and the other house residents. Although Margaret is married, she forms a relationship with Arthur.
Health bureaucrats threaten the future of the boarding house, supported by a real estate developer, and so the local Vicar, Kevin, works with Bob and Margaret, who is eager to help, to organize a meeting with local businesses and residents. However, after arguments at the meeting between the opposing sides, no conclusion is decided. Arthur is frustrated at the meeting, and intervenes as the sides argue, eventually being removed by Bob after venting his frustrations at the audience.
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Wikipedia