Kombi Nation

The ‘OE’ is a Kiwi rite of passage, but for those travelling in a Kombi van, the trip can feel “like mixed flatting in a space the size of a ping-pong table” (Peter Calder). In Kombi Nation, Sal sets off to tour Europe with her older sister and friend; they’re joined by a dodgy male and a TV crew, recording the shenanigans. Shot guerilla style after workshopping with the young cast, Grant Lahood’s well-reviewed second feature anticipated the rise of observational ‘reality TV’, but its release was hindered by the collapse of production company Kahukura Films.

The plan was to be in a guerilla mode really, so we could go anywhere and shoot anything at any time ... so if something came up or something happened we could just cope with it.

– Director of photography Simon Riera

Key Cast & Crew

Larry Parr

Producer

Ainsley Gardiner

Producer, As: The Producer

Genevieve McClean

Writer, As: Maggie

Jason Whyte

Writer, As: Scott

Loren Taylor

Writer, As: Liz

Phil Pinner

As: Kombi seller