When Love Comes

Film (Excerpts) – 1998

R16

Restricted

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When Love Comes features Rena Owen as a once were famous singing star who returns to New Zealand, in need of reinvention. Staying with a gay friend (Simon Prast from Gloss), she is reenergised after meeting a wastral songwriter (Dean O'Gorman) and two loved up young musicians (Sophia Hawthorne and Nancy Brunning, the former in her big screen debut). Invited to a slew of North American festivals — including Sundance and Toronto — Garth Maxwell's sun and song-lashed tale won praise stateside for its acting and "energetic direction" (The Hollywood Reporter).

When Love Comes is a lot like its partly pop, partly grunge score: A little raucous about the edges but soft and sentimental at the core. Go-for-broke performances by Rena Owen and fast-tracked Dean O’Gorman, add up to some blistering exchanges...
– Reviewer Glenn Lovell in Variety, 22 February 1999

Key Cast & Crew

Garth Maxwell

Director, Writer

Rena Owen

As: Katie Keen

Sophia Hawthorne

As: Sally

Jonathan Dowling

Producer

Michele Fantl

Producer

Rex Pilgrim

Writer

See all 31 credits

Produced by

MF Films

Source

MF Films

Acknowledgements

Made with funding from the NZ Film Commission

Music

Music composed and directed by Angus McNaughton, with assistance from Chris Anderton

Soundtrack includes vocals by Sophia Hawthorne, Leza Lee, Sandy Mill and Nancy Brunning

Includes songs by Jan Hellriegel ('Melusine'), Pitch Black ('The Gatherer'), Bic Runga ('Sway'), Mink ('Ride'), Mary ('Golden Halo'), and a remake of Screaming Meemees song 'Stars in My Eyes' performed by Leza Lee