When a City Falls

I watched the 3 clips a few times, it made me feel quite frightened to the thought this could happen anywhere in the country and around the world. Thanks for those that put these clips together, I have family living in Christchurch and its been a worry since the EQ, more so since the EQ, Not knowing what to say to them in those times were hard because they'd been there for 10 years or more had there family there, getting them to move has not been the answer, Christchurch is there home, there friends, other family members, Grand-parents, grand-children, jobs, its there lively hood, its not easy to leave that all behind. The future for the grand-children started there, moving will never be and option for now.
My heart is with you all always and forever. I hope the light you all carry will lesson as time goes on. May God Bless You All.

WOW, so hard to watch but had to do it !! Thank You for this !!!

Beautiful Christchurch (CHCH) will never be the same but it will rise Up again - Kiwis are strong & Proud !!

Thankyou for this excellent and well balanced documentary - comprehensively touched on many aspects. I dreamed of a major natural disaster affecting Christchurch on September 1st 2010 - in it I was searching for my family and was 'told' that they had got away and were safe. I could not believe what happened 3 days later - but even though very worried I had an underlying feeling that they were okay and that the dream had lessened the actual shock. I think the 2 events were rolled into the one dream(economy) cos I saw that Sumner was blocked and 2 lorries careered across the hills -unable to follow a proper road. When I saw the image on TV here (Australia) of the big lorry at a standstill across the back road into Lyttleton from Sumner and the large rocks strewn across the road it felt like deja vue... I am wondering if anyone else had any premonitions? I heard of one girl who said she was outside for a walk feb 21 and she heard someone say "earthquake". She turned around, saw someone a short distance away and asked them if they had spoken -they said "no". The next morning she was buried up to the neck under a'bedspread' of bricks that had fallen on her as she lay sleeping in -the internal chimney that was on the other side of wall against which her bed was had collapsed in the 6.3 quake. Still don't know how she survived.

ust watched the DVD. I have just relived those quakes and was shocked to find my emotions are still so raw and the tears came very easily. I don't think I will ever forget the awfulness of it. Special thoughts to Sue ( CTV building victim) God bless all the S and R people and the volunteers.
Brilliant documentary. I hope there will be an award for this.

Was an amazing look at the reality of which we all experienced in some form or another, thank you for all who made this happen. I was worried how I would feel watching it, tho there was emotion it also had moments of lightheartedness, a rollercoster of different emotions, just like the last 18 months of most cantabs.
Keep Strong Christchurch

I was pretty well ready to hate this doco but then I was challenged to watch it by a friend. I'm glad I did. It was not the sensationalist nonsense I was expecting. It was a carefully and maturely made record of the people that lived through our most devastating event in modern history. The construction was solid, the stories were well told and the way of our people was respected and honoured. Well worth a watch if you missed it.

Currently watching it on tv at the moment. Was very hesitant about watching it, I wasn't going to, I was afraid it would be too sad/depressing, but it's actually really powerful, moving and uplifting piece. Thanks for making it Gerard!

im kiwi living in canada i was in that earthquake heading home in 5 weeks for a holiday if would like me to pick up a copy drop me a line canadiankiwi@rogers.com

TV3 on demand. Playing NZ time today @ 7:30pm. I'm also from ChCh living in Canada

I hope we'll be able to see this in Canada. We lived in Christchurch for a while before the quakes and even this trailer makes me cry for that beautiful City.

Just noticed the Official site in LINKS at the bottom right hand of this page. That's where you purchase the DVD. Cheers Fay

I want to buy When a city Falls by Gerard
Smyth. Available on DVD yet. If not when where from and Cost $ please. I lived in Christchurch for nearly 30 years and left 1 year before the first quake. I've been back to share the sadness & despair including a trip through the red zone and had discussions with my son, a high school teacher who assisted with taking the wounded to hospital in the Feb disaster. I lost a friend in the CTV Building. I now live in Australia. Thanks Fay

When will this be coming out on DVD? I live in Australia, born and breed kiwi and really want a copy. Thanks, Sam.

great movie/doco saw it last night in wellington

One of the best films I have seen in a long time. No Hollywood Scripts, Special Effects or Made Up Actors with cosmetics they peddle in infomericials, but real honest to goodness people - in fact if I am not mistaken I saw my Cousin from my home town of Kaiapoi in there. First Rate and First Class. Christopher Lilly.

It would be nice if CBC-Doc-Zone could run this in Canada, and the PBS-net in the US as well. ABC or SBS also have a moral obligation to run this, as there are so many Kiwis in AU.