Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope (1987) blends Documentary elements. Top cast includes Merata Mita, Roger Donaldson, and John Barnett. The plot follows a central conflict that grows in scope as the film progresses.

Actor: Merata Mita

This Kaleidoscope documentary timed in with the release of Nicholas Reid’s book A Decade of New Zealand Cinema. The book cherrypicked Reid's favourites from the renaissance in local movies that began with Sleeping Dogs in 1977. Reid and a who’s who of local filmmakers discuss many of the 50+ features from the previous decade (with Bruno Lawrence ever present). They ponder the uniqueness (or otherwise) of Kiwi film. A fondness for rural and small town settings, and forceful, often conflicted, male leads is explored. Neglected areas — Māori film and more of a voice for women — are traversed.