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Vigil
Film (Trailer and Excerpts) – 1984
(Ward) has created an extraordinary visual and psychological experience, a work of awesome beauty at once mystical and earthy, robust and eerie. It is screen poetry of the utmost rigor, achieving maximum effects from minimal means.– Reviewer Kevin Thomas in The Los Angeles Times, 14 August 1986
(Vigil) is an astonishing feature film debut. Ward is an alchemist — out of familiar elements he creates something shining new.– Reviewer Tom McWilliams in The Listener, 8 September 1984, page 138
In form and content, and in its detailed and immaculate concern with visual imagery, it establishes in a single blow the place of its creator, 27-year-old Vincent Ward, as a unique film talent.– Reviewer Mike Nicolaidi in Variety, 2 May 1984
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Another tale of children by Vincent Ward
About Face
This series was produced by John Maynard
Open House - Happy Birthday (First Episode)
Also starring Frank Whitten
Kaleidoscope - NZ Cinema, the Past Decade
Vigil features in this survey of NZ film
Possum
Brad McGann's similarly moody short
Accidents
More Frank Whitten in the mud
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Featuring cameraman Alun Bollinger
Barefoot Cinema - The Life and Art of Cinematographer Alun Bollinger
The film is discussed 29 minutes into this documentary
The God Boy
Writer Graeme Tetley acts in this telefeature
Mr Pip
More imaginary escapism from everyday horror
Out of the Blue
Also co-written by Graeme Tetley
River Queen
Also directed by Vincent Ward
An Angel at My Table
Produced by John Maynard and Bridget Ikin
Godzone Sheep
A documentary on sheep as cultural icons
Bad Blood
Another grim look at NZ farm life
Eruption
Also written by Graeme Tetley
Strata
More moody loners produced by John Maynard
Heart of the High Country - First Episode
Frank Whitten plays another farmer
Hooks and Feelers
More trouble on the farm
Home Kill
Another dubious farm visitor
Cold Snap
More growing up in the backcountry
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Lull
A music video that may have been influenced by this film
West of Eden
Rural drama set in the 1960s
LIFE (Life in the Fridge Exists) - Christmas Episode
Also written by Graeme Tetley
Kaleidoscope - Edward Bullmore
More surreal NZ landscapes
Human Traces
More unease in the NZ outdoors
Kaleidoscope - Vincent Ward
Vincent Ward and writer Graeme Tetley talk about the film
For Art's Sake - A Century of Cinema
NZ Film Commission's Lindsay Shelton discusses Kiwi films
Stray
More isolation in the back country
Eleven
Another drama featuring a young girl
Wait
Short film about a child and a mother
Revelations
Fiona Kay also acts in this short film
The New Adventures of Black Beauty - A Horse Like Beauty (Episode Two)
Bill Kerr also acted in this kids drama series
The Waiting Place
More moody bush landscapes
Milk
Another award-winning drama starring a girl
Open House - Shades of Blue
Frank Whitten appears in this series
In Spring One Plants Alone
One of Vincent Ward's earliest short films
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