Edith Collier Film Returning to Cinemas
A documentary film on the life and work of Wanganui painter Edith Collier, "A Light Among Shadows," that played to sold
out houses at the recent Wellington and Auckland Film Festivals will be returning for a season to the NZ Film Archive's
cinema complex from at 12:30pm on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 August and at 7pm Friday 17 and Saturday 18 August.
Described as "a beautiful, rich, and acutely sensitive film," by the Dominion Post, the film was directed by Raumati
South film maker Michael Heath, and produced by Bhim Singh Chouhan, of KBCRE Productions, Wanganui.
Along with cinematographer Stephen Latty, the team also made the acclaimed cinematic song-cycle, "A Small Life,"
starring Mahinarangi Tocker, that has won 10 International Awards, including 8 Awards at the 2nd Kara Film Festival, in
Karachi, Pakistan, and Grand Prix Senef, in Seoul, South Korea.
"A Light among Shadows" pays tribute to the woman who is recognised as one of our greatest Modern painters. "The film is
a very human and expressionistic journey of Collier's way of seeing the world," says Heath, " It is a film about our
past – a story about provincial New Zealand almost 100 years ago….a powerful metaphor for the young artist of day
dealing with cultural identity and rejection." The NZ Film Archive decided to screen the film again, due to a
considerable response from the public, which has surprised the film makers.
"We were overjoyed with the emotional response from the public for our film" Mr Heath said. "I think people recognise in
their hearts the sad story of this remarkable woman and how she has been overlooked, and ignored for so long. It is time
our national galleries made amends, and shared her wonderful works with the New Zealand public"
"Edith Collier: A Light Among Shadows" is also screening at the Palmerston North Film Festival Sunday 19 Aug, 2:30pm,
Downtown Cinemas
ENDS