Kaikohe Demolition

Reviewed by PETER CALDER

(Herald rating * * * *)

Berlin-born and Northland-raised Florian Habicht brings a refined sense of the bizarre to film-making, as the small but enthusiastic constituency for his debut feature Woodenhead would attest.

That film, which involved circuses, accordions and a man who lived at the dump, wasn't to my taste. But his new production is a cracker - as Kiwi as No 8 wire and (therefore) as bizarre as anything German neo-expressionism could throw at us.

The film focuses on the demolition derby of the title in the Northland town, which most people down south know as the place where Santa got attacked for his lollies. Habicht, however, digs - though given his unobtrusive style it's probably truer to say he sinks slowly - beneath the surface of Kaikohe life by just hanging out with the major stars of this mud-spattered motorsport event.

With his collaborators, Habicht has crafted an extremely entertaining glimpse into a hidden world and fashioned a piece of pure Kiwiana.

The derby takes up only a small part of the film. Mostly we watch as his colourful cast - principally Uncle Bimm, Ben Haretuku and John Zielinski - engage in preparations that include improving the tread on their tyres by gashing them with a chainsaw. Sublime.

DIRECTOR: Florian Habicht
RATING: PG ( low-level offensive language)
RUNNING TIME: 53 mins
SCREENING: Academy from Thursday