NZ feature film Broken Hallelujah released nationwide
BROKEN
HALLELUJAH
SYNOPSIS
Inspired by a true story about love, the power of friendships and the complications of families.
THE STORY
The inspiration for the film is based on
true events. The use of multiple
character driven stories
was influenced by ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard
Cohen.
The characters and their relationships loosely reflect elements and themes of the song. The film touches on the dreams and desires of the characters and their motivation for some of the things they do and the decisions they make.
The characters are a diverse mix of ethnicities and ages because the theme of the film is a universal one. The characters are honest and the choice of cast was based on actors who were able to bring a sense of everyday people to the story. The film creates a feeling of looking through windows into people’s lives, allowing the narrative to unfold gradually as the various story lines develop and interweave.
The story is not afraid to address some uncomfortable subjects but it is approached in a way that makes it real and in the arena of the ordinary so that people do not feel assaulted by the ideas but rather able to see the world from another person’s view point
Sometimes when you hold up a mirror you see things differently, you notice things you hadn’t seen before. That’s what we hope to do as filmmakers, we give people a chance to feel something that they perhaps have not considered or experienced before giving them a new perspective on life.
As in Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” the film leaves us in the end with the notion that life, although rarely perfect, is something worth living.
REVIEWS
“Compelling and unique story-telling with a decidedly Kiwi flavour,” Liam Fennel editor of Verve Magazine.
“This film is a must see! Truly great performances.” Australasian distributor, Barrie Barmes of Revolution Entertainment.
“Watching Broken Hallelujah you swirl around the whirlpool that is love, finding yourself in and out of it as you cling to each character in turn. There is something for everyone because, as the film develops, you see different aspects of yourself onscreen. Here is a family drama where you feel part of the family” David Howard Burns Fellow 2013.
THE ACTORS
Broken Hallelujah includes some well-known and talented Kiwi actors including Ben Mitchell, (Outrageous Fortune series one, Shortland Street and The Hobbit); Matthew Chamberlain (In My Father’s Den, Insatiable Moon, Hook line and Sinker and Shortland Street); Vanessa Riddell (In My Fathers Den and Super City 2); and Greg Smith (Mt Zion and Help).
THE DIRECTOR, WRITER & PRODUCER
Broken Hallelujah is Director,
Alastair Riddell’s debut feature film. The film has
received entry to an American film festival
White Sands
and distribution in Australia. Alastair has a second feature
film Cowboy currently in post-production.
Alastair
is a singer/songwriter and professional musician. He is best
known for his band Space Waltz.
Vanessa Riddell, wrote
and produced Broken Hallelujah and also stars in the film as
the lead female
role.
SCREENINGS
Sponsored by Red
Carpet NZ, Broken Hallelujah’s premiere will take
place at The Vic in Devonport on Saturday
11th
October, 6pm. Released through Rialto Cinemas
on October 16th with a Q & A on October 17th. The film
will screen at over twenty boutique cinemas around the
country from October 16, 2014.
To view the Broken Hallelujah trailer:
https://vimeo.com/user4683142
link to short
trailer
https://vimeo.com/100842380
link to long trailer
Little Red Hen Pictures
www.Lrh.co.nz
ENDS