The film was nominated for awarded three awards at New Zealand's GOFTA Awards in 1986: Best Cinematography (Alun Bollinger), Best Original Screenplay (Vincent Ward), and Best Production Design (Kai Hawkins).
Eleven-year-old Toss lives on a remote farm in a valley somewhere deep in rural New Zealand with her father, mother and grandfather Birdie. When she witnesses her father's death while out herding sheep, she is shocked to see another man present, who then carries her father's body out of the bush. When the new man, Ethan moves onto the farm and begins a relationship with her mother, Toss sees him as an invader into her isolated world.
Vincent Ward spent five years making Vigil, from pre-production to completion.[2] Part of this was a lengthy pre-production process which involved him visiting hundreds of schools throughout New Zealand, looking for the right actor to play Toss. Similarly, Ward travelled all over New Zealand looking for a perfect setting before finding the isolated farm in Northern Taranaki where filming eventually took place.[3]
Reception
Upon its release, Vigil polarised critics although generally it was reviewed positively. One particularly negative critic, Robert Brown of The Monthly Film Bulletin, criticised the film for its "irritating music-and-effects track" and said it offered "grand themes [...] but without any notion of how they connect in reality".[4] Others however offered far more favourable reviews. The Los Angeles Times described Vigil as "a film of elemental beauty and growing tension". The Washington Post gave a positive review, saying "In Vigil, Ward gives us imagery that plays like blasted poetry", while The Guardian called it "a work of astonishing, original force [...] the most distinctive New Zealand film ever to reach Britain".[3]
Notably, Vigil was the first New Zealand film to be selected for competition at the Cannes International Film Festival, where the film received a standing ovation.[4]
References
^"Festival de Cannes: Vigil". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
vigil, film, vigil, 1984, zealand, drama, film, directed, vincent, ward, starring, penelope, stewart, frank, whitten, bill, kerr, fiona, gordon, shields, first, zealand, film, invited, play, competitive, section, cannes, film, festival, vigilfilm, posterdirect. Vigil is a 1984 New Zealand drama film directed by Vincent Ward and starring Penelope Stewart Frank Whitten Bill Kerr Fiona Kay and Gordon Shields It was the first New Zealand film invited to play in the competitive section of the Cannes Film Festival 1 VigilFilm posterDirected byVincent WardWritten byVincent WardGraeme TetleyProduced byJohn MaynardStarringPenelope StewartFrank WhittenBill KerrFiona KayGordon ShieldsCinematographyAlun BollingerEdited bySimon ReeceMusic byJack BodyRelease dateMay 1984 1984 05 Running time86 minutesCountryNew ZealandLanguageEnglishBudget 2 millionThe film was nominated for awarded three awards at New Zealand s GOFTA Awards in 1986 Best Cinematography Alun Bollinger Best Original Screenplay Vincent Ward and Best Production Design Kai Hawkins Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 5 References 6 External linksPlot EditEleven year old Toss lives on a remote farm in a valley somewhere deep in rural New Zealand with her father mother and grandfather Birdie When she witnesses her father s death while out herding sheep she is shocked to see another man present who then carries her father s body out of the bush When the new man Ethan moves onto the farm and begins a relationship with her mother Toss sees him as an invader into her isolated world Cast EditPenelope Stewart as Elizabeth Peers Frank Whitten as Ethan Ruir Bill Kerr as Birdie Fiona Kay as Lisa Toss Peers Gordon Shields as Justin PeersProduction EditVincent Ward spent five years making Vigil from pre production to completion 2 Part of this was a lengthy pre production process which involved him visiting hundreds of schools throughout New Zealand looking for the right actor to play Toss Similarly Ward travelled all over New Zealand looking for a perfect setting before finding the isolated farm in Northern Taranaki where filming eventually took place 3 Reception EditUpon its release Vigil polarised critics although generally it was reviewed positively One particularly negative critic Robert Brown of The Monthly Film Bulletin criticised the film for its irritating music and effects track and said it offered grand themes but without any notion of how they connect in reality 4 Others however offered far more favourable reviews The Los Angeles Times described Vigil as a film of elemental beauty and growing tension The Washington Post gave a positive review saying In Vigil Ward gives us imagery that plays like blasted poetry while The Guardian called it a work of astonishing original force the most distinctive New Zealand film ever to reach Britain 3 Notably Vigil was the first New Zealand film to be selected for competition at the Cannes International Film Festival where the film received a standing ovation 4 References Edit Festival de Cannes Vigil festival cannes com Retrieved 23 June 2009 Vigil New Zealand Film Commission Retrieved 11 June 2015 a b Vigil NZ On Screen Retrieved 11 June 2015 a b Martin Helen and Sam Edwards New Zealand Film 1912 1996 Oxford University Press 1997 p 106 External links EditVigil at IMDb Vigil at Vincent Ward Films Vigil on NZ On Screen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vigil film amp oldid 1132820993, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
