Tom's Dairy

Oscar Kightley's short film directing debut draws on his childhood memories of West Auckland life in the 1980s. Johnny (Mac Kuisava) is a budding writer and romantic, who faces a moral dilemma when he finds a lost wallet in a phone box outside his local dairy. Keenly aware of his surroundings, Jonny's influenced by streetwise older brother Moses (John Vaifale) but senses he can make a different life for himself using his creativity. The award-winning film touches on many issues — the clash between second and first generation Samoan Kiwis, casual police racism and the pains of growing up. 

It's an insight into how life was before the internet. If you wanted to play a game you had to go to the arcade. It was like the marae back then because we all gathered around Space Invaders. There will be certain things that most people could relate to like the milk truck and the fact that the dairy was the centre of the universe.

– Writer Oscar Kightley talks about growing up in 1980s Auckland, The Western Leader, 16 July 2013

Key Cast & Crew

Oscar Kightley

Director, Writer

John Vaifale

As: Moses

Elizabeth Mitchell

Producer

Grant McKinnon

Cinematographer

John Clarke (actor)

As: Tom

Mac Kaisuva

As: Johnny