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Illustrious Energy sees Chan and his older mate Kim prospecting for gold in 1890s Otago. Marooned until they can pay off their debts and return to China; they’ve been fruitlessly working their claim for 12 and 27 years respectively. Chan faces racism, isolation, extreme weather, threatening surveyors, opium dens and a circus romance. The renowned feature-directing debut of cinematographer Leon Narbey provides a poetic evocation of the Chinese settler experience; especially vivid are Central’s natural details — desolate schist and tussock lands, rasping crickets.
One of the most evocative — and unlucky — Kiwi films to emerge in the 80s was born from a couple of paragraphs in a book about Chinese goldminers. Illustrious Energy, the result, is the only movie (to date) to explore the many ...
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As of 07 April, 2012, a digitally re-mastered dvd is available for purchase.
For further details go to:
http://www.nzvideos.org/illustrious.html
Would love to find a Tape or DVD. Excellent film seen on big screen and also on TV
We have bought VHS copies from NZFC in the past - but they were very expensive.
The film is diffuclt to buy because it has only recently been recovered after being lost. Soon after it was completed it went overseas (along with other NZ films) as part of the assets of Mirage Entertainment, NZ's only local distribution business. The govt of the day preferred to sell rather than bail out the enerprise. Thus even though NZFC largely financed the film they lost both the final print (there was only one) and, I suppose, copyright.
So far, as I understand it, 8 NZ films have been located overseas including this one. But it is difficult to find out who owns copyright or to buy the DVD, which, as I understand it, has been made from the original film after further post pro (which was not completed at the tme due to budget restraints).
I emailed the NZFC again a few weeks ago but have not had a reply.
Surprised there are not more comments . I am a Chinese - Maori my Grandfather had to pay a poll tax. I have found it hard to buy ,Why??
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Television, 2009 (Full Length Episode)
Artist Kerry Ann-Lee interprets settler history
Television, 2008 (Full Length Episode)
Six Māori teenagers vist China for this doco series
Television, 2008 (Full Length Episode)
Six Māori teenagers visit China for this doco series
1988 Taormina Film Festival (Italy)
Bronze Charybdis (3rd prize)
1988 Hawaii International Film Festival
East-West Centre Award (Best Film)
1988 New Zealand Listener Film and Television Awards
Best Director: Leon Narbey
Best Cinematographer: Alan Locke
Best Production Design: Jeanelle Aston
Best Musical Score: Jan Preston
Best Editing: David Coulson
Best Contribution to a Soundtrack: Bob Allen, Gethin Creagh & Mike Hopkins
Best Male Performance in a Supporting Role: Peter Hayden
Best Female Performance in a Supporting Role: Heather Bolton
1988 London Film Festival
Official Selection
Finalist - Most
Outstanding Website
The ONYAs 2010 & 2011
Best Entertainment Website
Finalist – Website design
Qantas Media Awards 2009
NZ ON SCREEN 2012
This website has been made with funding from NZ ON AIR ›
Paul Ward | website
Posted at 10.05AM - 24.04.2012
You can purchase Illustrious Energy (remastered) on DVD from ScreenLine: http://www.screenline.co.nz/catalogue/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_20&products_id=387&zenid=q7m70bthigght26gopmpa8cfi6