James & Isey

Idiosyncratic director Florian Habicht returned to his early home turf of Northland for a documentary about a mother and son. As with his earlier films Kaikohe Demolition and Land of the Long White Cloud, Habicht set out to uncover the character and spirit of locals leading seemingly unremarkable lives. James & Isey is set in the town of Kawakawa, where irrepressible kuia Isey Cross lives with her devoted son James. Habicht encounters the pair in the lead-up to Isey's 100th birthday. Isey explains her worldview and James reveals the spiritual preparations he has made leading up to the milestone celebration. 

Popped him out and that's it. Nek minnit...

– Kuia Isey Cross talks about her son James

Key Cast & Crew

Lani-rain Feltham

Producer

Florian Habicht

Director, Cinematographer, Concept, Editor, Producer

Cam Ballantyne

Composer

Anastasia Doniants

Editor

Kingi Rummler (aka Gregory King)

Story Consultant

Teresa Peters

Creative Consultant