No Ordinary Sheila

No Ordinary Sheila unfurls the life story of the adventurous, multi-talented Sheila Natusch: from first opening her eyes to nature while growing up on Stewart Island, as the daughter of a ranger and an artist; through befriending Janet Frame during teacher training, to the many books Natusch went on to write and/or illustrate. Filmmaker Hugh Macdonald (This is New Zealand) directs this portrait of a lover of nature and life, her joy unbowed by age. Natusch died on 10 August 2017, just days after watching the film as part of a packed house at the 2017 Wellington Film Festival. 

I have been chided in my time for not using scientific or stately language. It's just not in me ... I can't be formal.

– Sheila Natusch

Key Cast & Crew

Christine Dann

Writer, Producer, Research

Hugh Macdonald

Director, Producer, Camera

Abi King-Jones

Editor

Phil Burton

Sound Design

Phil Darkins

Narrator

Mark Gee

Time-Lapse Photography