Woodenhead

This surreal Florian Habicht film took Aotearoa to the arthouse with unprecedented weirdness and wonder. Innocent Gert, who works in a rubbish dump, can't believe his luck when he's told to take his boss's beautiful mute daughter Princess Plum to meet her prospective husband. The two set off through a fairytale far north landscape, encountering freaks and monsters, and experiencing danger and romance. In an unusual reversal, the voices and music for Woodenhead were recorded before filming. Included is a making off documentary. In 2022 a colour version of the film debuted at the NZ International Film Festival.

I chose the fairy tale because it provides an easy-to-follow plot. The filming technique was already experimental enough and I wanted to give the audience something they could sink their teeth into.

– Writer/director Florian Habicht in The NZ Herald, 10 February 2004

Key Cast & Crew

Matthew Sunderland

As: Gustav the Strongman, As: Voice of the Tramp

Marc Chesterman

Composer, Sound Design, Sound Mix

Christopher Pryor

Cinematographer, Editor

Nicholas Butler

As: Gert

Teresa Peters

Art Director, As: Plum

Florian Habicht

Director, Writer, Sound Design, Camera Operator, Producer