CFS Film Screening: Sleeping Dogs

Join Canterbury Film Society for our screening of kiwi classic, Sleeping Dogs (Roger Donaldson • 1977 • 107 mins • NZ • PG).

“NZ's first real action movie, featuring helicopters, explosions, bombs and full riot scenes in Auckland city streets. The film ran at the box office for a total of 12 weeks in Auckland, something unheard of at the time. Based on the novel Smith's Dream by CK Stead the story follows a man named Smith (Sam Neill) who ends up running from the law during a time of militaristic tyranny. In The Village Voice in 1982, Carrie Rickey wrote "Like Hitchcock’s Saboteur, Sleeping Dogs is suffused with paranoia, mistaken identity and breathless chase. Unconventionally and convincingly, Donaldson makes the case that there's no such thing as existentialism, no personal giants to flying solo. Despite its obscure political context, better not let this Sleeping Dog lie, because it's sure to rouse you." (Scoop)

This is a Film Society Members Only screening - but new members are warmly welcome. Go to www.canterburyfilmsociety.org.nz to see membership options (including 3-film Flexipasses for $40, as well as Half Year and Full Membership). Join and pay online, or bring along cash (eftpos not available) and sign up at the membership table before the film.

The Canterbury Film Society offers weekly screenings of top-quality films – arthouse, classic, cult, documentary, world cinema and more – on the big screen. We screen on Monday night at 7.30pm, doors open 7.00pm with drinks and home-baked food for purchase.

Let us take you further into film!