Two Cars, One Night
Short Film (Full Length) – 2003
Youngsters Romeo, Ed, and Polly wait in two cars after dark, while their parents are inside drinking. It’s a situation many Kiwis will recognise: cars without parents, outside the pub or rugby club. Soon cross-car rivalry warms to budding friendship. Winning performances, and a tender mix of comedy and romance saw Taika Waititi's tale of a Te Kaha pub carpark become an international hit. Two Cars won a boot-full of awards, launched Waititi’s career, and became only the second New Zealand short to be nominated for an Academy Award. Waititi infamously feigned sleep during the 2005 ceremony.
Sucklucka!– Polly (Hutini Waikato) to Romeo (Rangi Ngamoki)
Key Cast & Crew
Adam Clark
Te Ahiwaru Ngamoki-Richards
Hutini Waikato
Rangi Ngamoki
Taika Waititi
Catherine Fitzgerald
Produced by
-
Defender Films
Acknowledgements
Made in association with the Short Film fund of the NZ Film Commission
If you liked this, you might also like...
The Car Collection
Car races, demolition derbies and a famous yellow mini...
NZ Short Film Collection
This selection – in partnership with the New Zealand Film...
The Taika Waititi Collection
From acting to funny accents, to directing blockbuster...
Kiwi Oscar Heroes
A collection of films that have seen Kiwis winning glory...
The NZ Film Commission turns 40
A collection celebrating 40 years of the NZ Film...
The Living Room - Series Two, Episode Ten
Taika Waititi discusses Two Cars
Boy
Feature film inspired by this short film
Tama Tū
Taika Waititi's follow-up short film
The Frog, the Dog, and the Devil
NZ's first Oscar nomination for dramatic short
Mark II
More award-winning car action
Eagle vs Shark
Taika Waititi's debut feature film
Scarfies
Taika Waititi acts in this film
Kaikohe Demolition
More Kiwi car action
Reluctant Hero
Willie Apiata is also Te Whanau a Apanui
Va Tapuia - Sacred Spaces
Also produced by Catherine Fitzgerald
The Orator - O Le Tulafale
Also produced by Catherine Fitzgerald
Blazed - Drug Driving in Aotearoa
More kids and cars from Taika Waititi
Little Things
Also shot by Adam Clark
Loading Docs 2021 - Night Ride
Another short black and white film
Heinous Crime
Another award-winning short film directed by Taika Waititi