Two Cars, One Night (2004)

Director:

Taika Waititi

Writer:

Taika Waititi

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Short

Plot:

Sometimes first love is found in the most unlikely of places, like in the carpark outside the Te Kaha pub.

Plot Keywords:

Pub | Obscene Finger Gesture | Automobile | Children | Ring

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Rangi Ngamoki	...	Romeo
Hutini Waikato	...	Polly
Te Ahiwaru Ngamoki-Richards	...	Ed
Riwai Waka	...	Koro
Dion Waikato	...	Tangata

Directed by
Taika Waititi

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Taika Waititi

Produced by
Vanessa Alexander	....	executive producer
Catherine Fitzgerald	....	producer
Ainsley Gardiner	....	producer

Original Music by
Craig Sengelow

Cinematography by
Adam Clark		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Owen Ferrier-Kerr		(as Owen Ferrier Kerr)

Art Direction by
Simon Harper

Makeup Department
Loren Taylor	....	makeup artist (as Loren Horsley)

Sound Department
Taipua Adams	....	boom operator
Glen Bullen	....	assistant sound editor
Chris Burt	....	sound mixer: Dolby Digital
Wi Kuki Kaa	....	adr artist
Nic McGowan	....	sound editor (as Nick McGowan)
Nic McGowan	....	sound recordist (as Nick McGowan)

Visual Effects by
Nick Booth	....	digital imaging: Weta Digital
Tim Capper	....	visual effects supervisor
Roman Gadner	....	digital imaging: Weta Digital
Brian Scadden	....	opticals: The Film Unit
Pete Williams	....	digital imaging: Weta Digital
Phil Greig	....	digital intermediate finisher (uncredited)
Phil Greig	....	lab technician (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Taipua Adams	....	lighting assistant
Charles Edwards	....	camera operator
Ori Kenobi	....	lighting assistant
Murray Love	....	key grip
Grant McKinnon	....	gaffer
Duncan Patterson	....	clapper loader (as Duncan Paterson)
Mike Toki-Pangani	....	assistant grip (as Mioke Toki-Pangari)
Angus Ward	....	focus puller

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Loren Taylor	....	wardrobe (as Loren Horsley)

Editorial Department
Jay Berryman	....	negative matcher: Upper Deck Film Services
Russell Lewis	....	negative matcher
Kirsty McDowell	....	assistant editor
Rex Pointier	....	editing facility manager: Gibson Group
Lynne Reed	....	film grader

Music Department
Julian Arahanga	....	musician: singer
Tammy Davis	....	musician: singer
Ainsley Gardiner	....	musician: singer
Lissa Meridian	....	musician: singer
Kinder Te Moana	....	musician: singer

Transportation Department
Jimmy Greaves	....	supplier: prop vehicle
Brooke Tere	....	supplier: prop vehicle
Burra Waititi	....	supplier: prop vehicle

Other crew
Julian Arahanga	....	caterer
Wynter Blathwayt	....	title designer
Nancy Brunning	....	acting coach
Nancy Brunning	....	chaperone
Rutaia Campbell	....	location liaison
Catherine Fitzgerald	....	caterer
Dave Gaskill	....	location liaison
Rebecca Hampton	....	unit production staff
Anna Horsley	....	unit production staff
Abi King-Jones	....	continuity
Sharon Leamy	....	liaison: film post-production, The Film Unit
Bruce McArthur	....	liaison: Atlab
Ally McMahon	....	location liaison
Trisha Rogers	....	location liaison
Tim Rose	....	supplier: coffee, Havana Coffee
Corrine Verstraten	....	location liaison

Production Companies

• Blueskin Films Ltd.
• Defender Films
• New Zealand Film Commission

Special Effects

• Weta Digital (digital imaging)

Other Companies

• Atlab  sound negative
• Darn Cheap Rentals  vehicles
• Film Transport Company  vehicles
• Gibson Group, The  editing facilities
• Havana Coffee  coffee
• Love Your Grip  grip equipment
• Panavision New Zealand  camera equipment (as Panavision)
• The Film Unit  post facilities
• The Inside Track  sound facilities (as Inside Track)
• Upper Deck Film Services  negative matching facility
• Volcano Lighting  lighting equipment

Also Known As:

Runtime:

12 min

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Australia:PG | Singapore:PG

Company:

Blueskin Films Ltd.

Quotes:

Romeo:Cause then I wouldn't have a diamond ring.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV)

A charming unassuming little film

Inside the Te Kaha pub the night is in full flow with drinkers enjoying themselves. Outside in the car park Romeo and his little brother Ed sit in the car awaiting the return of their father. Another car pulls up alongside, with twelve year old Polly also left in the car while her father goes for a drink. Bored out of his mind, Romeo starts taunting Polly from his car but what starts out childish insults changes with even the short time they share together in the anonymous car park.

Aside from the rather grating accents (to my ear at least) and the difficulty in quickly catching onto the dialect of the characters, I must confess that I found this a surprisingly fresh and charming short film. Another reviewer has stated that writer/director Cohen was aiming for something that looks at human contact and this has indeed been achieved. Filmed in a great black and white that feels dirty and lowdown (as opposed to the crisp and sexy b/w that many modern films will use) the film starts with a simple insult and builds from there. If it sounds simple then I suppose it is because it sort of is. However it works because the two characters are well written and well delivered to pace the development of this contact without making it feel corny or rushed.

The script works well but the director does well to draw good performances from the three children. Despite initially a bit put off by their appearance and accents, I was drawn in as they were by one another and found them really natural and engaging. Ngamoki is annoying at first but comes around well, while Waikato has an easy chemistry with him that makes it convincing. Ngamoki-Richards maybe has a small character but he is funny as little brother Ed.

Overall then a charming unassuming little film. It won't blow your mind with depth or messages but it is effective in what it does and it is as convincing as it is engaging.