It’s almost unheard of that a “surf movie” is accepted into the NZ International film festival, let alone takes out the top award. Clive Neeson’s new film, Last Paradise, did just that!
Described by The Santa Barbara Independent as “a brilliantly interesting story behind New Zealand’s well-deserved reputation as the adventure sports capital of the world,” this eco-adventure classic captures the mindset and antics of a team of pioneers who explored a paradisical planet that few ever saw, before it was to disappear forever.
But this 45 year quest for adrenaline and wilderness adventure began at no other place than Raglan.
Clive Neeson, the films director, says “Few people realize how surfing was at the roots of that maverick spirit which made NZ the adventure capital of the world.”
Last Paradise combines over 45 years of New Zealand’s best surf and adventure footage into one film. Amongst other things, it documents the birth of surfing in Raglan, the earliest attempts at windsurfing, snowboarding, skurfing, big wave tow-in surfing and even renowned pranks like AJ Hackett’s historic first bungy jump off the Eiffel tower.
The big screen production was done with the help of Peter Jacksons team at Park Road Post Production. Vintage unseen material includes early surfing at Raglan with Point Boardriders, snippets of Mickey Dora’s secret NZ sojourne while on the run from the FBI, with epic footage of Da Cat surfing in Raglan and Mahia in 1973. We see Ton Deken’s discovery of Bali as a grommet, surfing eye-watering waves at Uluwatu with Gerry Lopez, and we witness mind-blowing tuberiding at Matakana Island by Al Byrne and Kevin Jarrett
The cast, also includes renowned scientists and adventurers, who provide a balanced and alarming insight into how our world has changed over the last four and a half decades, culturally, environmentally and technologically.
Surfing and science collide in the worlds greatest scientific project and as we discover in the film, it began right here. And the maverick spirit of surfing is at its heart.
Last Paradise has won a handful of Awards at film festivals around the world including: Most Popular New Zealand Film at the New Zealand International Film Festival (2010), “Best of Banff “ at the Banff Mountain Film Festival in Canada, and “The Ambassador of Green Award”, XDance USA (The Academy Awards of action sports films). In the USA, Last Paradise was declared as “a film like no other”, a “genre bender”.
It is a kiwi treasure with an uplifting message portraying to the world both the extraordinary beauty of New Zealand and the kiwi pioneering spirit.
For trailer click image below:
LAST PARADISE
CAST: AJ Hackett, Jeff Campbell, Ton Deken, Allan Byrne, Biggi Smithers
RUNNING TIME: 100 MIN FORMAT: Hi Definition digital
RECOMMENDED: General Audience
CLASSIFICATION: Documentary – exempt
For all NZ cinema screenings, including Raglan and Hamilton see: www.lastparadisefilm.com