Land of the Long White Cloud
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Florian Habicht describes his latest exposé of the recreational habits of Northlanders as a ‘sequel of sorts’ to his classic Kaikohe Demolition. Claimed to be the largest surfcasting event in the world, the annual Ninety Mile Beach Red Snapper Classic attracts hundreds of anglers for five days every February to compete for prizes in excess of $250,000, with the biggest snapper taking out a serious $50,000. Habicht joins them, camera in hand, full of questions about what they might be thinking as they engage in this elemental and apparently very relaxing pursuit. How will they spend the prize money? Do they believe in an afterlife? Habicht relishes the individual flavour of every frank response. There are interludes of boisterous carousing, grueling scenes of snapper passion, and long and lovely shots of the long and lovely beach. The amiable atmosphere of tolerance and unpretentious philosophising is so salty and true and rousing that you could bottle it, call it Kiwiade, and sell it by the crateload to homesick expatriates. [source: New Zealand Film Festival 2009]
Starring
Ossie Perrie, Shane Storey, Wiremu Henare, Heather Hales
Directed by
Florian Habicht ('Woodenhead', 'Kaikohe Demolition', 'Rubbings from a Live Man')
Cinematography by
Florian Habicht, Niamh Peren, Christopher Pryor
Music by
Marc Chesterman
New Zealand | Official Website
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PRESS REVIEWS
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Listener (Helene Wong)
An acute sense of Kiwi identity that brings both a smile and a tear... Habicht captures, without fuss or pretension, the elemental and surreal qualities of the seascape while evoking something that's quintessentially New Zealand...
Click to read full review.
Real Groove (Marty Duda)
Habicht does a wonderful job of presenting these folks as articulate, thoughtful and happy with their lot in life. At the same time he proves what a great eye he has developed, with one stunning scene after another. Rather than cutting quickly from shot to shot to try and generate excitement, Florian allows the camera to linger and we, as viewers are able to take in the beauty of the ocean and the artfully composed shots of fishermen standing in the surf. Add a bit of carefully chosen music and you’ve got another minor masterpiece from one of our finest directors.
Click to read full review.TV3 (Kate Rodger)
It’s a gentle delight this film, as Habicht’s subjects wax lyrical on everything from fishing to politics and the media.
Click to read full review.Flicks.co.nz "Land of the Long White Cloud" Movie Review
Flicks.co.nz rating
Andreas Heinemann, Flicks.co.nz
Talented local director Florian Habicht’s latest release is perfectly timed for summer, what with it being a documentary about fishing on one of our most famous beaches. It has an authentic kiwi feel that should be appreciated by local audiences.
The endless stretch of sand and surf that is Ninety Mile Beach lends itself to stunning landscape photography and the film is structured so that the landscape is infused with mystical, mythical qualities to become a friendly antagonist in man-versus-nature vignettes.
The cast of local characters who make up the fishing competition are approached with a mix of respectful understanding and gentle humour, allowing them to come across as entertaining whilst picking up the pearls of unconventional wisdom that drop from their lips. An offbeat soundtrack and some elaborate helicopter and underwater photography adds technical flourish to the humanist heart of the film.
The film’s running time is brief but that just keeps things tight and to the point without compromising the soothing, familiar qualities of the New Zealand beach, where you’ll want to head as soon as the closing credits run.
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