It’s pretty rare to find a kiwi made musical film, but that changes this year with the release of the homegrown musical Daffodils.
The film is a period piece set between the 60s and 80s and tells the mostly true love story of Rose (Rose McIver) and Eric (George Mason), a young couple in love and full of big dreams. Interspersed throughout the film are scenes showing the couple’s grown up daughter Maisie (Kimbra) listening intently as her dying father tells her the real story of their ill fated relationship.
The acting and cinematography are very, very good, but the undoubted star of this film is the soundtrack. It’s chock full of superbly re-imagined iconic songs from a slew top-notch kiwi artists. It is these songs that provide the perfect musical representation of the drama, and it is hard not to be proud of our country when you sit in a theatre and hear them.
The film is spot on with its presentation of kiwi reserve, the changing fashions over two decades, and has the right balance of kiwiana and culture without taking it too far.
The portrayal of a negative and critical mother-in-law (played with aplomb by Tandi Wright), seems a little cliched, but then this is, we are told, a true story, so I’m prepared to overlook it.
Daffodils is a beautifully made film that looks and sounds great. It has moments that are nostalgic and sweet and sad. But I have a little niggle about it, and that is – other than the pivotal scene which ultimately sets the couple up for failure – there is nothing particularly challenging in this film.
Essentially its about an average white suburban kiwi couple who never learned how to trust one another, and their inability to communicate effectively dooms their marriage to failure.
That kind of things happens every day in the suburbs, so what’s new in that? But hey, it’s just a niggle, Daffodils is still worth watching.
DAFFODILS
In cinemas 21st March 2019
Daffodils
97 Minutes
Starring – Rose McIver, George Mason, Kimbra
Director – David Stubbs