Rain

Rain evokes an idyllic 1970s beach holiday. But as the title hints, all is not sunny at the bach. Mum (Sarah Peirse) is drowning in drink, Dad is defeated, and 13-year-old Janey is awakening to a new kind of power. Adapted from Kirsty Gunn's novel, Rain won acclaim for director Christine Jeffs. Invited to screen at the Cannes Film Festival, it won awards back home for actors Peirse, Alistair Browning and teenager Alicia Fulford-Wierzbicki. Neil Finn and Edmund Cake composed the soundtrack. LA Times critic Kevin Thomas called it "an important feature debut".

...an evocative mood piece, enriched by gorgeous visuals ... generally, the direction is mature and controlled, not just in visual terms but in the assured handling of the actors. Like so many New Zealand filmmakers, Jeffs and d.p. [director of photography John] Toon display a remarkable feel for nature and landscape and for the soft, glowing light particular to parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

– David Rooney reviewing Rain in Variety, 15 May 2001

Key Cast & Crew

Alicia Fulford-Wierzbicki

As: Janey

Sarah Peirse

As: Kate

Alistair Browning

As: Ed

Marton Csokas

As: Cady

Christine Jeffs

Director, Writer

John Toon

Cinematographer, Associate Producer