romantic comedy
Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a sub-genre of comedy and Romance novel, romance fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount all obstacles. Ro ...
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drama
Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...
film. Written and directed by
Anthony McCarten
Anthony McCarten (born 28 April 1961) is a New Zealand writer and filmmaker. He is best known for writing big-budget biopics '' The Theory of Everything'' (2014), '' Darkest Hour'' (2017), '' Bohemian Rhapsody'' (2018), '' The Two Popes'' (2 ...
, it stars
Melanie Lynskey
Melanie Jayne Lynskey ( ; born 16 May 1977) is a New Zealand actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women and her command of American accents, she works predominantly in independent films and television. She is the recipient of numerous ...
Stephen Lovatt
Stephen Lovatt (born 27 May 1964) is a New Zealand actor, best known internationally for his portrayal of character Max Hoyland on the Australian soap ''Neighbours''.
Career
Since training as an actor at Toi Whakaari, the New Zealand Drama Sch ...
, and Matt Whelan. Inspired by true events, the story concerns an endurance competition where the person who can keep their hand on a brand-new car the longest gets to keep it. ''Hands'' was released theatrically in New Zealand on 13 November 2008.
Cast
*
Melanie Lynskey
Melanie Jayne Lynskey ( ; born 16 May 1977) is a New Zealand actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women and her command of American accents, she works predominantly in independent films and television. She is the recipient of numerous ...
Stephen Lovatt
Stephen Lovatt (born 27 May 1964) is a New Zealand actor, best known internationally for his portrayal of character Max Hoyland on the Australian soap ''Neighbours''.
Career
Since training as an actor at Toi Whakaari, the New Zealand Drama Sch ...
as Hatch
*
Chelsie Preston Crayford
Chelsie Florence Preston Crayford (born 1987), sometimes credited as Chelsie Florence, is a New Zealand actress.
Early life
Preston Crayford was born in Wellington to film maker Gaylene Preston and musician Jonathan Crayford. Apart from appeari ...
as Betsy
* Matt Whelan as Matt
* Semu Filipo as Tayshawn
* William Johnson as Walter
* Mark Mitchinson as Alex Lee Lerner
Premise
In an ordinary New Zealand suburb, a competition with a twist is being staged: it requires entrants to place one hand on an up-for-grabs
Land Rover
Land Rover is a brand of predominantly four-wheel drive, off-road capable vehicles, owned by British multinational car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), since 2008 a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors. JLR builds Land Rovers in Brazil ...
, the eventual winner being the person who keeps it there the longest. Attracted to this gruelling contest are people from every walk of life—with disparate reasons for taking part—including salesman Tom ( Craig Hall), a lovable rogue who'll do whatever it takes to win, and single mother Jess (
Melanie Lynskey
Melanie Jayne Lynskey ( ; born 16 May 1977) is a New Zealand actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women and her command of American accents, she works predominantly in independent films and television. She is the recipient of numerous ...
), a parking warden who needs the car for her disabled child; though her motives for winning take an unexpected turn when Tom rubs her up the wrong way.
Production
Originally conceived as a
television film
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...
, ''Show of Hands'' received funding to be released theatrically when
Melanie Lynskey
Melanie Jayne Lynskey ( ; born 16 May 1977) is a New Zealand actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women and her command of American accents, she works predominantly in independent films and television. She is the recipient of numerous ...
signed on to the project. Filming took place in
New Plymouth
New Plymouth () is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, in Devon, from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. The New Pl ...
, New Zealand between November and December 2007, with principal photography lasting 24 days. The film was shot using HD Thomson Viper cameras.
Release and reception
''Show of Hands'' premiered at the
Montreal World Film Festival
The Montreal World Film Festival (), commonly abbreviated MWFF in English or FFM in French, was an annual film festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1977 to 2019.Qantas Film and Television Awards
** Nominated: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress (Lynskey)