Register 

Registering with NZ On Screen means you can:

  • save favourites
  • comment on and discuss titles
  • join the conversations in the messageboard
  • receive updates via email about what's happening in the site – if you want to

 Register now

We won't share your data with anyone (see our Privacy Policy) and we won't spam you. It's that simple.

Close

You are here:

 Made Up In Blue
 She Speeds
 Planet Man
 This Film is a Dog
 Marti: The Passionate Eye
 Ans Westra - Private Journeys / Public Signposts

Synopsis

This short film takes its title from a shocking 1942 photograph of a suicidal woman plummeting to her death from the roof of a hotel. Directed and written by Jonathan Ogilvie (The Tender Hook), the film is a series of close-ups of the photo overdubbed with a beguiling film noir-styled narration that brilliantly channels the chill detachment the photographer must have had in order to get such an extraordinary shot. Despondent Divorcee screened at several international film festivals including in competition at Cannes in 1995.

Credits (5)

 Jonathan Ogilvie

Jonathan Ogilvie
Director, Writer, Producer, Editor

 Amanda Pearson

Amanda Pearson
Actor

 Roger Norris

Roger Norris
Actor

See all credits ›

Post a comment

   
I am:
 

Please keep your comments relevant to this title. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Comments

No one has commented yet. Go on, be the first!

Produced by

Favourite:

You need to be logged in to add to your favourites.

Related Titles (10)

 This Film is a Dog

This Film is a Dog

Short Film, 1996 (Full Length)

This was shot by Ogilvie at Cannes with Divorcee

 She Speeds

She Speeds

Music Video, 1987

A classic music video directed by Jonathan Ogilvie

 Made Up In Blue

Made Up In Blue

Music Video, 1986

Music video directed by Jonathan Ogilvie

 Planet Man

Planet Man

Short Film, 1995 (Full Length)

Another noir-styled short film

 Marti: The Passionate Eye

Marti: The Passionate Eye

Television, 2004 (Excerpts)

An excerpt of a doco about photographer Marti Friedlander

 Ans Westra - Private Journeys / Public Signposts

Ans Westra - Private Journeys / Public Signposts

Television, 2006 (Excerpts)

Documentary about one of NZ's foremost photographers

 Mananui

Mananui

Short Film, 1995 (Full Length)

A short film where a suicide occurs

 Here Is the News

Here Is the News

Television, 1992 (Full Length)

Doco that looks at 30 years of NZ TV journalism

 The Sunshine Man

The Sunshine Man

Short Film, 2006 (Full Length)

Another very short and rather dark short film

 Jumping Out A Window

Jumping Out A Window

Music Video, 1981

A 1981 song featuring a window jump

Collections.   See all collections ›  

Included in:

 NZ Short Film Collection

NZ Short Film Collection

Curated by Juliette Veber
Added 08 July 2010

 Kiwi Shorts at Cannes

Kiwi Shorts at Cannes

Curated by NZ On Screen Team
Added 13 May 2011

Quotes

Despondent Divorcee (1996) and This Film is a Dog (1997) are both driven by aloof and cool male characters that resist the movements of fate with seemingly sincere actions to improve their lots, only to have their motives weighted by a blind selfishness that steers them to conclusions filled with more pain than they began with. In short, they are attracted to fates worse than death. 

– Hussain Currimbhoy (from an interview with Jonathan Ogilvie)

Awards

1995 Festival de Cannes, France
Official Selection (Short Film in Competition)

Festivals include
1995 Edinburgh International Film Festival, 1995 Times London BFI, 1995 Sydney International Film Festival, 1995 Brazil International Film Festival.