Rain (III) (2001)

Whilst on a family vacation on the Mahurangi Peninsula in New Zealand, 13-year-old Janey begins to realize that her parents' marriage is on the rocks.

Director:

Christine Jeffs

Writers:

Kirsty Gunn (novel), Christine Jeffs

Stars:

Alicia Fulford-Wierzbicki, Sarah Peirse, Marton Csokas

5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Alicia Fulford-Wierzbicki	...	Janey
Sarah Peirse	...	Kate
Marton Csokas	...	Cady
Alistair Browning	...	Ed
Aaron Murphy	...	Jim
David Taylor	...	Sam
Chris Sherwood	...	Ron
Claire Dougan	...	Joy
Alison Routledge	...	Heather
Pino Scopas	...	Pino
Ross Harper	...	Partygoer #1
Jane Irwin	...	Partygoer #2
Tom Evans	...	Partygoer #3
Andi Reveley	...	Partygoer #4
Lu Rathe	...	Boat Cleaner

Storyline

Janey is on vacation with her brother, Jim, mother, Kate, and father Ed, at their beach house on the Mahurangi Peninsual in New Zealand. Ed and Kate, who are on the verge of divorce, sit around in the back yard all day drinking whiskey and Janey and Jim are left to their own devices. Cady, a local boatee who is having an affair with Kate, catches Janey's pubescent eye. In response to his wife's drinking problem and recurring infidelity, Ed turns to alcohol, ignoring his children almost as much as his wife, which eventually leads to a character's fate.

---

Plot Keywords:

marriage | vacation | photographer | summer | party | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Details

Official Sites:

NZ Film Commission rainthemovie.com [nz] Christine Jeffs' debut feature film

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 2001 (New Zealand)

Also Known As:

Eső

Filming Locations:

Mahurangi Peninsula, Rodney District, Auckland Region, New Zealand

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$15,222 (USA) (26 April 2002)

Gross:

$453,517 (USA) (20 September 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Communicado Productions, New Zealand Film Commission, Rain Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 90 min 86 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Although the film is set in the 1970s, the "Clipsal" type electric light switch seen on the bathroom wall in close up in one scene dates from the 1990s.

---

Quotes

Janey: I'd like to have some nice photo's.
Jim: Why?
Janey: 'Cause I want to.
Ed: What for?
Janey: My portfolio.
Ed: Why do you need a portfolio?
Janey: I don't know.
Ed: What would you do with a portfolio?
Janey: I think it'd give me good confidence.
Ed: I didn't think you needed it.

---

Soundtracks

"Cry Wolf"
(L. Germano/M. Segal/J. Joyce)
Universal - Songs of Polygram Int., inc./Neeha Music/Warner-Tamerlane
Publishing Corp. (BMI)
o/b/o Crossfire Music and Jay Joyce Music
Performed by Lisa Germano
Licensed courtesy of 4AD

User Reviews

Bleak house in NZ

It does not actually rain in this movie, but there is a sullen, overcast feel to it. Usually family holidays are recalled with some affection – the bad bits edited out. In this family's story from the 1970s there's not much that is pleasant to recall. Mum is drinking herself to oblivion and having an affair with a neighbour, Dad is not coping either, and the 13 year old daughter is confused and frightened by the goings on. Her little brother, a sunny kid, is not so affected. Early on, it is plain that some kind of tragedy is going to happen.

Apart from some of the flattened vowels, and the unremarkable coastline just north of Auckland this is a story that could be set anywhere amongst the aimless middle classes of western society– the people who have what they need or more, but who have no higher ambition but to joylessly consume. In the wife's case this is unfortunately alcohol. Her daughter has reached puberty but has to cope on her own. (the local boys seem to be behind her in development anyway).

As the daughter, Alicia Fulford-Wierbicki puts in a fine performance, as does Sarah Pierce as the mother. The men are all pretty shapeless with Marton Csokas doing a glowering Russell Crowe number as the mother's lover.

It's a bleak story but well done.