Grey Lynn's turn in movie spotlight

It's now Grey Lynn's turn to bask in big-screen glory.

At the world premiere of Sione's Wedding last night in Auckland's SkyCity Theatre, the celebrity crowd burst into applause as the spotlight shone squarely on the Auckland suburb.

Prime Minister Helen Clark triggered the applause by praising what she said was the latest in a string of strong Kiwi films.

"They've all got something different to say about aspects of our country and its history, whether it's Whale Rider and Ngati Porou, Perfect Strangers and the people of the West Coast, In My Father's Den from Central Otago, The World's Fastest Indian from Southland, River Queen from Wanganui, or No 2 from Mt Roskill.

"Now it's Sione's Wedding from Grey Lynn."

For the film's co-writer and star, Oscar Kightley, Sione's Wedding is the culmination of a five-year project and a progression of his comedy from the stage to television to the big screen.

"The movie came from $3.8 million ... and lots of love. But it looks like a $20 million film," insists Kightley.

The comedy with a Samoan flavour has a different goal from other New Zealand films.

"There's every chance we're going to laugh till we cry," warned Helen Clark. "Everyone said to me when I came in, 'have you brought a hanky because you're going to need it'," she told a packed crowd that included Whale Rider star Keisha Castle-Hughes and author Witi Ihimaera.

But, as Kightley says, you should also see it because it will look familiar.

"It's a really New Zealand film and it looks amazing, Auckland looks really cool and you know the people. You probably went to school with them."

It's now up to New Zealand to decide if it's any good, he says. "I'm quietly confident. You'll like it."

Sione's Wedding opens nationwide on March 30.