''No. 2'', released as ''Naming Number Two'' in North America, is a 2006 New Zealand film written and directed by

Toa Fraser Toa Fraser (born 1975) is a New Zealand born playwright and film director, of Fijian heritage. His first feature film, '' No. 2'', starring Ruby Dee won the Audience Award (World Dramatic) at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. His second, ''Dean ...

in his feature film debut. It was released 16 February 2006 in New Zealand and 3 August 2007 in the

U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

It was adapted from

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

- Fijian playwright Fraser's 2000

play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...

Plot

Nanna Maria, the matriarch of a Fijian extended family living in a suburb of

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...

, New Zealand, feels that the heart and passion has gone out of her clan. One morning, she demands that her grown grandchildren put on a big family feast at which she will name her successor. The grandchildren—Soul, Charlene, Hibiscus, Erasmus, and her favorite, Tyson—reluctantly turn up, Tyson with his new Danish girlfriend, Maria. Family conflicts play out as the difficult day progresses, but in the end the grandchildren—and eventually Nanna's children too—join with cousins and others in a traditional celebration.

Cast

Production

The film was shot in the

, New Zealand suburb of

Mount Roskill Mount Roskill is a suburban area in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. It is named for the volcanic peak Puketāpapa (commonly called "Mount Roskill" in English). Description The suburb, named after the Mount, is located seven kilometres to ...

during the latter part of summer 2005, with interior scenes of Nanna Maria's house taking place on a soundstage at

Henderson Valley Studios Auckland Film Studios, formerly known as Henderson Valley Studios, is New Zealand's largest film studio complex, located in Henderson, West Auckland. Entrances to the complex are on Hickory Ave, Henderson Valley Road and Rabone Street, Henders ...

. Post Production was completed in Wellington, at Park Road Post. Soon after the arrival of Ruby Dee in New Zealand, the film was put on hold after the news that her husband

Ossie Davis Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis (December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an American actor, director, writer, and activist. He was married to Ruby Dee, with whom he frequently performed, until his death. He and his wife were named to the NAACP ...

had died in the U.S. Dee flew back to attend the funeral. However, before she left New Zealand, she vowed to return and complete the film. The crew were stood down for a 3-week period, and principal photography commenced at the beginning of March 2005.

Awards

* 2006 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Audience Award: DramaticSundance Film Festival 2006 Awards
/ref> * Nomination, 2006 Sundance Film Festival

Grand Jury Prize A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually in a single city or region. Increasingly, film festivals show some films outdoors. Films may be of recent date and, depending upo ...

Soundtrack

References

External links

Cyan Pictures: ''Number Two'' official site

New Zealand Film Commission profile
* 2006 films New Zealand drama films Sundance Film Festival award winners Films produced by Tim Bevan 2000s English-language films {{NewZealand-film-stub