Weekend Rewind: The films of Florian Habicht

Florian Habicht and Masha Yakovenko in Love Story. Photo / Supplied

Opinion

By Nicky Harrop of NZ on Screen

Spookers, the new documentary from Florian Habicht, screens in Auckland this week as part of the the New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF). NZ On Screen's Nicky Harrop profiles the work of one of our most innovative directors.

The past 15 years have seen the rise of one of our most unique and celebrated screen talents. Florian Habicht was born in Berlin, immigrating to Paihia at age eight, and going on to be responsible for some of this century's most original New Zealand films.

Long fascinated by the idea of community, Habicht discovered one in an unexpected place while making his latest feature. Spookers goes behind the scenes of 'New Zealand's only haunted attraction theme park', housed on the grounds of the former Kingseat psychiatric hospital in Karaka. Alongside footage of punters being scared senseless by zombie brides and chainsaws, Habicht highlights the bond between the Spookers staff, creating scenes inspired by their dreams and nightmares, and tracing the themes of alienation that have brought them together.

Watch the trailer for Spookers here:

Habicht found his passion for filmmaking while studying at Auckland's Elam art school, his career breakthrough arriving soon after with 2003's Woodenhead. A mythical quest set in the Far North landscapes of his childhood, the feature put Habicht on the map, earning him a SPADA Filmmaker of the Year award and screenings at a number of international festivals. In a rule-breaking moment of genius, the soundtrack for Woodenhead was recorded first before footage was shot to match, helping achieve the film's surreal, otherworldly look and feel.

See an excerpt from Woodenhead here:

For his next feature, Habicht moved to documentary, painting another far out portrait of the Far North. Kaikohe Demolition profiled a community of characters drawn together by a desire to demolition derby. Behind the bangs, prangs, and blow-ups, the heart and soul of a small town is laid bare, in a must-watch 50-odd minutes.

You can view Kaikohe Demolition in full, here:

In 2008, Habicht released Rubbings from a Live Man, a semi-dramatised biography of local theatre legend Warwick Broadhead. The film saw Broadhead recount his dramatic life story, while playing most of the characters in it - one of the rare times his performances were captured on screen before his death in 2015.

Watch the trailer for Rubbings from a Live Man here:

In 2009 Habicht returned to Northland, documenting the annual Red Snapper Classic fishing competition in Land of the Long White Cloud. Against the stunning backdrop of Ninety Mile Beach, Habicht introduces us to the contestants, teasing out their innermost thoughts and some fine homespun philosophy.

You can watch Land of the Long White Cloud in full, here:

Habicht's next feature, Love Story, was born of a year-long residency in New York. Part memoir, part romance, part exploration of improvising a movie into being, the film stars Habicht and Russian-born Masha Yakovenko, with the director calling it "the most personal film I've made".

Watch the trailer for Love Story here:

Next came a love story of a different kind - an offbeat homage to UK band Pulp. Filmed in the lead-up to their 2012 farewell concerts in Sheffield, Pulp: a Film about Life, Death & Supermarkets is all that and much more, with frontman Jarvis Cocker musing on everything from ageing to fishmongering between brilliant live footage and fervoured fan tributes.

Watch the trailer for Pulp: a Film about Life, Death & Supermarkets here:

You can learn more about Florian Habicht here, in NZ On Screen's Collection.