00:00
/
00:00
The first of two excerpts from this experimental film.
The second of two excerpts from this experimental film.
Flight of Fancy
Short Film (Excerpts) – 1987
This whimsical film starring New Zealand artist Michael Smither, animal wrangler Caroline Girdlestone, and cartoonist Burton Silver, documents Smither's quest to learn to fly. It is a documentary in the accepted sense but lyrical and full of surprises. Made by Wellington filmmaker Tony Hiles, edited by Jamie Selkirk (future Oscar winner for The Return of the King), and gorgeously shot on location at Farewell Spit and Wharariki Beach. Smither is well known for his idiosyncratic realist paintings, such as Rocks With Mountain.
Key Cast & Crew
Acknowledgements
Made with funding from the NZ Film Commission and Charter Corp Ltd.
Music
Music by Nik Brown.
Categories
If you liked this, you might also like...
Good Taste Made Bad Taste
This documentary showcases some of the tricks of the...
Country Calendar - Spoofs Special
Ask Country Calendar viewers which shows they...
Britten - Backyard Visionary
In the late 1980s, Kiwi John Britten developed and...
Richard Pearse
Around 31 March 1903, eccentric farmer Richard Pearse...
The Adventure World of Sir Edmund Hillary - The Kaipo Wall (Part One)
Aotearoa's place as an adventure sport mecca is...
This is Your Life - AJ Hackett
Paul Henry surprises bungy jumping entrepreneur Alan...
Forgotten Silver
An epic documentary chronicling the extraordinary life...
Landmarks - A Land Apart
Presented by Kenneth Cumberland, Landmarks...
The World's Fastest Indian
Inspired by the ageing Burt Munro — who took his...
Peter Snell, Athlete
This NFU classic tells Peter Snell's story, up until...
Rutherford of Nelson
This National Film Unit film follows Nobel...
Let's Get Inventin'
This madcap, Qantas award-winning TV2 children's show...
Kaikohe Demolition
Director Florian Habicht's follow-up to his offbeat...
Seven Black Robins
By 1976 there were only seven Chatham Islands black...
Flip & Two Twisters
Flip & Two Twisters is Shirley Horrocks'...
Fast Forward
This Christchurch-based TVNZ science and technology...
Pioneer Women - Ettie Rout
The Feltex-winning series Pioneer Women...
Cowboys of Culture
Cowboys of Culture is director Geoff Steven's...
Three New Zealanders: Sylvia Ashton-Warner
Visionary educationalist and novelist Sylvia...
Jet Boats in New Zealand
In the 1950s, driven by a desire to power around the...
Architect Athfield
Before he achieved worldwide fame as an actor, Sam...
Deer Wars
This documentary tells the epic story of helicopter...
Inventions from the Shed
Jim Hopkins presents this documentary — based on...
Shearing Technique
In the 1940s and 50s sheep shearers Godfrey and Ivan...
Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger
With a large helping of Kiwi ingenuity and a hint of...
Allan Wilson: Evolutionary
Allan Wilson was the Pukekohe-raised scientist who...
Flight of Fancy
This whimsical film starring New Zealand artist...
Behind the Bull
When Forgotten Silver
Jack Brown Genius
Jack Brown Genius is the story of an...
The New Adventures of Black Beauty - The Birdman
A continuation of the classic 70s UK TV series...