Rare screening of NZ film could make a good doco

Ben Mitchell and Evelyn Scholes in Broken Hallelujah, playing at Taihape's Majestic Theatre next month. Photo/Supplied

Taihape's cinema will screen the New Zealand feature film Broken Hallelujah next month and the audience may well find themselves on camera as well.

Broken Hallelujah, made by former Space Waltz frontman Alastair Riddell and actress Vanessa Riddell, is one of the few films produced in a format these days Taihape's Majestic Theatre can show.

Theatre manager Simone Simpson said " ... quite a few New Zealand productions don't come out in our format as we aren't digital. It means we can't show them, which then means the locals have to travel a good distance to view the films."

She said the film-makers will be at the screening on November 6 for a Q&A session afterwards, and may film the audience for a possible documentary on small regional theatres such as the Majestic for their production company Red Hen Productions.

"They are also very keen to film the audience and the cinema. They think it might make for a good doco, the state of regional cinema and how New Zealander's perceive New Zealand films."

Broken Hallelujah is inspired by Leonard Cohen's song Hallelujah and intertwines three stories through a central character, Chris, who is a "wanna-be" writer. The film is based on his connections with three other major characters: Kirsty, whose comfortable life is up-ended when she finds out how her husband has been keeping their business afloat; Lex a young real estate agent who has his heart set on the award for best salesman of the year and Francis, an unassuming man, who is desperately trying to convince his wife Miranda to give their marriage another chance.

Tickets are available from Paper Plus Taihape and also the theatre at $8 with door sales on the night at $10.

Screening starts at 7.30pm and the question and answer session will feature the Riddells and cinematographer Dean Carruthers.