Tararua Cinematheque Presents : See the Mural Series

The Regent Pahiatua's giant, new mural is complete, and to commemorate it, we’re doing a “See the Mural” film series, highlighting each NZ production illustrated on the building. The films will screen in chronological order beginning with Vincent Ward’s Vigil (1984) on Saturday the 3rd at 6pm. Ward, a Wairarapa native, burst on the scene with this debut feature, the first NZ film to ever compete for the Palm d’Or at Cannes Film Festival.

"Vigil" is a dark, atmospheric, real-yet-surreal coming-of-age film set and shot near Taranaki. We’ve teamed up with the New Zealand Film Commission for this one, and they’re providing a gorgeous, new restoration of the film.

The NZFC is also providing us with our second picture, Geoff Murphy’s "The Quiet Earth." Starring Bruno Lawrence in one of his most iconic roles, "The Quiet Earth" is NZ’s first film foray into science fiction. Lawrence plays a man who wakes up alone in a post-apocalyptic Hamilton - the horror! Kidding aside, Murphy likely drew visual and narrative inspiration from "The Last Man on Earth" and "Omega Man." Later on, this NZ treasure proved to be inspirational as well. After seeing The Quiet Earth, be sure to rewatch the opening of the great Danny Boyle’s hit film "28 Days Later."
The following weeks will feature the 2022 restoration of Jane Campion’s "The Piano," the latest 4K restoration and recolouring of Peter Jackson’s "The Fellowship of the Ring," and Jackson’s remake of "King Kong." Cinematheque members get into all these shows for free.

With the mural complete, we want to shift our momentum and focus on the cinema’s tired Art Deco façade which is in much-needed restoration and repair. This “See the Mural” series is being done as a laser-focused effort for this purpose. Licensing these films costs, so large turnouts to both recoup that cost as well as raise money for the building is ideal. So bring your family and friends, let’s pack the place out for all five shows, and let’s raise enough to get this facelift done by the year’s end!

Tickets for nonmembers are $10 each, but beyond that, we’re accepting donations on our website as well as at the cinema.