Age no barrier to stardom

PLAYING FAVOURITES: Mother and son Isey and James invited filmmaker Florian Habicht into their lives in the week leading up to Isey’s 100th birthday. Picture supplied

by Peter de Graaf, Northern Advocate

The last time Isey Cross went to the movies was at Auckland’s Civic Theatre during World War 2.

But on April 3 she went back to the Civic, not just as a spectator — the Kawakawa kuia celebrated her 102nd birthday watching herself play the starring role in a new film.

The world premiere of James & Isey was attended by friends, whanau and many of the people featured in the documentary, including members of the Bay of Islands College kapa haka group and Six60 singer Matiu Walters, Isey’s great-grandson.

And, because the screening happened to be on Isey’s birthday, it was followed by a party like no other.

The film was made by Paihia-raised Florian Habicht, best known for his 2004 cult documentary Kaikohe Demolition, about local characters competing in the town’s demo derby.

Habicht said the film centred around the relationship between Isey and her son James, who has been her full-time caregiver for 20 years. In reality, however, each looked after the other.

The project came about two years ago when James was organising an “epic’’ party for his mum’s 100th birthday.

He needed to raise money to pay for a fitting celebration but he also wanted to find someone who would record it for posterity.

“So he put that out into the universe. He also found out Instant Kiwi was getting people to write in with their stories for some commercials they were making.’’

Habicht, with a track record of filming real people rather than actors, had been hired for the Instant Kiwi campaign and knew he was on to something when he read James’ postcard.

While he was shooting the ad, James asked if he would also film his mum’s 100th birthday.

“I was trying not to make another documentary but as soon as I stepped into their home I knew it was something special. They instantly welcomed me into their world, into their whanau.’’

Habicht said he was going through “a bit of a tough time’’ and was inspired by the mother and son’s aroha and connection to Papatuanuku.

Making the film was an intimate experience because most of the time it was just the three of them. James had some filmmaking experience so he was able to lend a hand.

“It was an incredible week. You couldn’t script all the stuff that happened. I was really lucky to be able to capture it.’’

James wanted the premiere to be at the Civic, where his mum last saw a movie, although the Auckland landmark is almost always booked out.

Yet, somehow, it was available on the night of her birthday.

Habicht put it down to intervention from “upstairs’’, like many things that happened while he was making the movie.

Like Kaikohe Demolition, James & Isey had an “amazing spirit’’ thanks to the people in it, although there was one key difference.

“Usually I find the subjects for my documentaries, but this time they found me.’’

Isey was last at the Civic when she was 18 years old, over 80 years ago.

“And the second time she went back to the Civic was on the day she turned 102, and for the premiere of her movie,” James said.

“That’s what I said to Florian — this isn’t about me or you, or anyone else, it’s about my mum.”

Florian gave James and Isey a sneak peek at the final cut of the film ahead of its premiere. So what did she think? Was it a five-star watch?

“Ten stars if you like,” she said.

So, ten stars it is from Isey.