COURTESY OF THE PRODUCER

A wonderful surprise! If the first Son of God can turn water into wine, Arthur, the self-proclaimed second son of God can make stony hearts beat again. The story of psychiatric patients in a boarding house that doesn't fit in a suburb in Auckland with pretensions, may not sound promising but this film really draws one in. The characters are revealed as very real people by an excellent script and stunning performances from all the leads - stand-outs being Rawiri Paratene (from Whale Rider) as the messianic Arthur, and Ian Mune as Norm, the crusty boarding house owner. To say it is moving, witty and funny doesn't do it justice. That it took eight years to produce, and after funding was withdrawn was produced on a very low budget may in hindsight have helped. One senses that it is the work of people who believed in it passionately, and put their hearts and genius into it. It shows.