FLICKS: What do you hope audiences come away with from Vintner’s Luck?
NIKI CARO: What I notice is that firstly it seems to make them feel, and then it sneaks up and makes them think. I am very proud of that.
As well as, it's the opportunity to surrender to the sensuality of the world if we can. And to see something that is, in fact, is really different from pretty much everything else out there at the moment.
THE VINTNER'S LUCK TRAILER:
FLICKS: Whale Rider, North Country and Vintner’s Luck have all premiered at Toronto.
NIKI CARO: Yeah, I know, it's amazing. And when we were there [for Vintner's Luck] it was seven years to the day that Keisha and I had [first been there with Whale Rider].
And they've all been so different. Whale Rider was so tiny, we were in a tiny little cinema buried in the middle of the festival. North Country was so big because we had all the big, big, actors. So we were in the biggest venue and had a huge party in this warehouse. The party was so funny. I was wandering around and I just couldn’t find anybody I knew, I was a real Nigel-no-mates and eventually the publicist came and found me and I said, "Where is everybody?", and she said, "Oh, they are in the VIP area". So she took me over to the VIP area and the bouncer wouldn’t let me in. And she said, "No, you don’t understand, this is the director", and he just wouldn’t believe her. He just thought no, I just didn’t look like, I don’t know, an old guy.
Once I got in it was really fun.
FLICKS: I’m sure they let you in this time?
NIKI CARO: Yeah. And this time was really interesting because it was like halfway between those two. It was an amazing screening – the Toronto audiences, they are so brilliant.
FLICKS: How does New Zealand produce so many great female directors? Yourself and Jane Campion, Christine Jeffs...
NIKI CARO: Well, I think a lot of it has to do with getting the vote first. And even before that I think it had a lot to do with being a colonised country. Women that came here had to be really strong. They were some shitty times, you had to be really tough and that helps in the film industry.
I think for me Jane Campion has a hell of a lot to do with it, you know? When I saw Sweetie my whole way of looking at the world shifted. Because I had always loved movies, but I never thought "how would you do that?" But when I saw Sweetie, and I saw ourselves, I saw a way of making films that wasn’t Hollywood and was so compelled and inspired.
But I think it is a New Zealand in general thing. 'Cos you can put Taika Waititi in there. You know, honorary girl. I hate that I said that. But I think he is certainly the most gifted New Zealander working right now. I am a mad fan of his. New Zealanders tend to punch above their weight in the world. I don’t know why. Helen Clark has probably a lot to do with it, too, being Minister of the Arts over that long period of time - I felt sort of affirmed in my artistic life by that.
FLICKS: Do you think New Zealand film makers need to be not only aware of a local audience but an international one?
NIKI CARO: It is wonderful when your films work in your own country, it’s amazing. But I don’t think we can only consider that anymore. Economically you just can’t. But on the other hand, I will say that in the past I have seen the Film Commission go through phases of only wanting to make generic, international films, [when] our voice is really unique and really appreciated. I think we must continue to be idiosyncratic in the world.
FLICKS: Who do you consider your influences? Filmmakers or otherwise.
NIKI CARO: Certainly Jane Campion. I am a mad fan of Vincent Ward’s and as a teenager I was obsessed with his films. Books, I read a lot. My children. I should actually bone up on my influences. But the truth is, I have a young family and there is nothing in my life except my little family and my work.
So I am very behind. I see what I can and I read what I can, but when you have children you just get sucked into a parallel universe that is very compelling and very exhausting. But the upside is that what I learn about how human beings are, from watching them form in front of my eyes, I take to the work. So they are my big influence right now.
My lack of time is a big influence right now, and I am just trying to make things that are substantial under those circumstances.
FLICKS: Do you see your future as making films in New Zealand or America or both?
NIKI CARO: I am sort of really conscious that if I make a film in New Zealand I take that resource away from another filmmaker, so probably now the next work is likely to be elsewhere.
But this is where I live and this is where I love, so I would like to somehow keep myself engaged and involved in the New Zealand film industry and the new filmmakers coming through.
Interview by Paul Scantlebury, Flicks.co.nz
The Vintner's Luck opens November 12 in cinemas. Read more on the film or watch the trailer.
