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'Gay Chch: The Movie' opens Pride Week

Fri 9 May 2008 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback

NZ's 'garden city' is rolling out the pink carpet for the world premiere of a feature-length documentary telling the story of LGBT Christchurch on Saturday night at the Regent Cinema. The event marks the beginning of Christchurch's annual Pride Week of LGBT events ranging from workshops, to lunches, to parties, to theatre performances. Filmed by an independent company of movie-making lesbians in Christchurch, Through Rainbow Coloured Glasses was created from over 65 hours of interview footage of community leading lights ranging in age from mid 20's to mid 70's. "There are some very deep thread of personal, political and social history that started here in Christchurch," director Meshell Edgecombe told Plains FM's TranSister Radio. "This film has been a work of love for about two years before you see it on Saturday night." The final touches to the film are still being made this week, with Edgecombe saying she's very pleased with the results. "As a filmmaker, I will always want to adjust. But I'm amazed by the sheer collaborative effort and what we have achieved. "We had some wonderful interview time with Q-Topia - some of the younger people of the 25-and-under youth group who work here in Christchurch advocating and educating young people. That was enjoyable, and we contrasted that with some of the pre-law reform stories who were pushing against the status quo the generation before. So there are lots of contrasts in the film." Edgecombe says there are many activists who pass on their unique history in the film, enlightening many of the younger people who can't quite fathom what it's been like for them to try to live as an 'out' queer person pre-law reform. "One of the things that I felt quite moved by, and one of the reasons I wanted to record our history, is that our people are growing older. And we will lose them. We will lose their very investment, unless we keep it alive, and unless we take some time to listen and to share. "There's a very personal, astute and broad history that we've recorded - but I think it's the older people I was moved by. Time is moving - we need to care for each other." Saturday night's premiere screening of Through Rainbow Coloured Glasses is sold out, but the film will re-screen at the Regent Cinema on Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 May, before entering queer film festivals in New Zealand and around the world. A special Hollywood After-Party at the Flamingo Bar on Manchester Street is planned for after Saturday's screening.    

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Friday, 9th May 2008 - 12:02pm

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