Media Release: October 2016 – for immediate release
IMPASSIONED! HELLBENT! UNLEASHED! AGAIN!!! Desperate Remedies Returns!
This November, a ground breaking New Zealand cinema cult classic will have a new life and a lavish red carpet
“re-premiere”. Desperate Remedies has been remastered in 4K UHD with Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and released in its
original format, not seen for over 20 years. Set in a town called Hope at the turn of the century Desperate Remedies
stars Jennifer Ward-Lealand (Dirty Laundry), Lisa Chappell (McLeod’s Daughters) and the late Kevin Smith (Xena: Warrior
Princess) in a whirlwind love triangle, made even more complicated by the sly machinations of a failing businessman
played by Michael Hurst (Terry Teo) and a sexy but devious opium dealer played by Cliff Curtis (Fear the Walking Dead),
in his feature film debut.
The film is written and directed by Stewart Main and Peter Wells and was produced by James Wallace Productions Ltd in
association with The New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand on Air and Avalon/NFU Studios.
Described as “A delirious creation… Gainsborough on Acid” by Screen International, “Startling, voluptuous… witty sensual
entertainment” by the Dominion and “Camper than a row of tents!” by Empire Magazine, the multi-award winning film took
the world by storm in 1992/93 and made a huge splash in New Zealand and Australia. Shot entirely in two retrofitted
sheds on the Auckland waterfront, the film makers had their share of challenges in realising the film. It boldly tackles
the intrigues of a lesbian love story, that becomes a love triangle, that becomes a love quadrangle and quickly spirals
out of control, presented as a highly theatrical, over the top, lavish melodrama. Widely accepted by cinema audiences at
the time Desperate Remedies was filmed only 5 years after the homosexual law reform and precedes legal same-sex marriage
in the country by over a decade. As a visible representation of accepted same-sex relationships, where audiences root
for the lesbian heroes, the film was ground and barrier breaking. It has since developed a cult following and has been
studied at universities around the world.
2016 sees the return of Desperate Remedies, as a result of months of behind the scenes planning from Sir James Wallace,
Grae Burton (Wallace Productions Ltd, Associate Producer) and the New Zealand Film Commission, through its restoration
team and Te Ahi Kā initiative to preserve, protect and promote the best of New Zealand cinema. On November 28 Desperate
Remedies, with the assistance of Auckland Live, Red Carpet TV and The Civic, will screen for one night only at The Civic
theatre on Queen St, home of the original premiere. This will be the first (and likely only) opportunity in over two
decades for New Zealand audiences to see the film on the big screen and promises to be the red carpet cinema event of
the year. This date will coincide with the release of a limited edition Blu-ray of the film that includes special behind
the scenes footage, along with the creation of a new ‘making of’ documentary (directed by Burton) and an exhibition of
images, costumes, props and video art created from the film, which will run throughout this summer at The Pah Homestead,
TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre in Hillsborough, Auckland.
FILM PREMIERE – The Desperate Remedies Remastered Red Carpet Premiere
Monday, November 28, 2016 – Red Carpet from 7pm, Screening at 8pm
The Civic, Queen Street, Auckland
Tickets available from October 28 from - www.ticketmaster.co.nz (09) 970 9700 or 0800 111 999
EXHIBITION – Remedies Redux: The Desperate & The Beautiful
Monday, November 28, 2016 - January 15, 2017
The Pah Homestead, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, 72 Hillsborough Road, Hillsborough, AUCKLAND –
www.wallaceartstrust.org.nz
ENDS