Shihad: Beautiful Machine documentary released

Shihad documentary provides an all-access pass to the legendary band’s fights with fame, fortune, the industry and themselves

Rialto Distribution and Pacific Lightworks present the highly anticipated documentary film Shihad: Beautiful Machine.

Shihad: Beautiful Machine, directed by Sam Peacocke, will be in cinemas around New Zealand from 17 May.

Shot in various locations including Wellington, Melbourne, New York, Nashville, Berlin and London, the film follows the tumultuous trajectory of New Zealand’s best-loved rock band which celebrates its 24th anniversary this year.

For over two decades, Shihad has defined New Zealand rock music. From their roots in Wellington’s furious ‘90s punk metal scene to the wild Berlin days, the tragic overdose of their manager, the international explosion of The General Electric and the infamous American name-change. Shihad: Beautiful Machine asks, “What went wrong?”

What makes this documentary unique from many other music genre documentaries is its focus on not only the music, but also on the band member’s relationships with wives, girlfriends and their parents. Interviews with the band’s nearest and dearest illustrate the extent to which these were instrumental in shaping the voice and journey of Shihad over time.

Producer Laurence Alexander says, “When we first discussed the idea of the film, I met with a friend of the band who told me many stories that had occurred during the band’s career and it started to paint a picture of the adversity they had been up against.

“Beyond the band exists family and personal relationships that all feed into the story of the survival of New Zealand’s longest-running rock act.”

None more so than the relationship of Jon Toogood and his former wife, Ronise Paul, which provided much inspiration for Shihad’s lyrical material.

The documentary marks director Sam Peacocke’s debut feature-length film. Peacocke won attention with a slate of distinctive music videos, including Shihad’s Beautiful Machine, and his short film Manurewa was selected for the Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Crystal Bear for Best Short in the Youth section.

Shihad:Beautiful Machine is a truly unique Kiwi film experience and an unflinching look at the elusive reality of a true rock dream.

To view the trailer for Shihad: Beautiful Machine, click here. For updates on the film, visit www.shihadmovie.com, follow @ShihadMovie or www.facebook.com/pages/Shihad-Movie/319063294824900

ENDS

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