Architect Athfield

Before he achieved fame as an actor, Sam Neill directed documentaries for the National Film Unit. Achitect Athfield was one of his most ambitious. It examines the philosophy, early achievements and frustrations of one of New Zealand's most innovative architects, Ian Athfield. In 1975 he won a global contest to design housing for 140,000 squatters in Manila — the capital city of the Philippines — yet struggled to gain recognition back home. This film culminates in Athfield's trip to the Philippines to pursue the project. Athfield died in January 2015. Russell Campbell discusses the documentary in more detail in this backgrounder.