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Apron Strings

Apron Strings

2008
CLICK HERE to read our interview with director Sima Urale.

Apron Strings premiered at the Auckland International Film Festival this year.

In her first feature Samoan-born Aucklander Sima Urale (King Kapisi's sister, FYI) brings an ebullient light touch to a story which traces parallel, richly loaded domestic dramas in two families of cooks: one Sikh, the other dyed-in-the-wool Anglo. Both tales centre on mothers and their fatherless sons.

Lorna (Jennifer Ludlum) is the proprietor of an old-fashioned cake shop, and mother of the listless, unemployed Barry (Scott Wills) who's 35, still living at home and complaining about her cooking. The glamorous Anita (Laila Rouass) hosts an Indian Cooking Show on TV. Her poise is shaken when her student son Michael (Nathan Whitaker), the apple of her eye, starts to "explore his Indian-ness" by getting a job in an Otahuhu curry-house. [Source: NZFF08]

Starring Laila Rouass, Scott Wills, Jennifer Ludlum, Nathan Whitaker, Leela Patel

Directed by Sima Urale (feature debut)

Written by Shuchi Kothari, Dianne Taylor

Drama | 1hr 30mins | Rated (M) | violence, offensive language | Origin: New Zealand

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The Talk

38 votes / No comments

5

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Flicks review

  •  3

    Philippa Rennie, Flicks.co.nz

    Flicks Writer

    The latest NZ feature film is a real cultural potpourri set in the South Auckland suburb of Otahuhu, exploring the lives and tribulations of two families struggling in very different ways with matters of identity and control.

    The central theme in the film is concerned with the often complex relationship between mothers and their children. We see the paralleled lives of two families - the suburban Pakeha family, where long-suffering mother Lorna (Jennifer Ludlam) tries to motivate her gambling addicted son Barry (Scott Wills), and the glamourous affluent Indian TV star Anita (Laila Rouass) as she strives to protect her beloved university son from the tangled web of lies and shame that surrounds her family's past. As Michael (Nathan Whitaker) forms his own relationship with Anita's estranged sister Tara (Leela Patel), the relationships begin to unravel.

    If this all sounds a bit heavy, it's not. Director Sima Urale injects a great portion of humour into what could be fairly grim subject matter. She manages to draw out some great comedic performances from the characters - Ludlam's Lorna with her vitriolic dispersions on the Vietnamese and Pacific Islanders invading 'her' suburb is both heartfelt and amusing and Jodie Rimmer as Lorna's rebellious daughter Virginia is hilarious.

    The common thread running through is that of food - Lorna runs an old fashioned cake shop, Anita is the host of a flashy modern Indian cookery show while her sister Anita runs a home style curry house. From the quaint kitsch wedding cakes to the exotic Indian delicacies, the food is all shot as beautifully as the entire film. Director of Photography Rewa Harra switches from infusing the film with the sumptuous golden light of the TV set and the curry house to the pastel haze of the suburban house scenes, dictating mood with ease and grace.

    On the downside, Nathan Whitaker playing the male lead Michael failed to exude a strong screen presence, and while Laila Rouass of Footballers Wives fame bought a touch of glamour to the film, it never felt as if her character was developed enough to allow the audience to form any real empathy with her. Although light in nature, the rather limp ending could easily have been moulded into something more poignant.

    The release of Apron Strings by Samoan born Auckland Director Sima Urale has been hotly anticipated since her critically acclaimed short films O Tamaiti and Velvet Dreams. While this film was beautifully made and entertaining, I can't help but think that the best is yet to come from Ms. Urale.

    Agree? Disagree?...

The people's reviews

18 reviews

  • It was Alright

     3

    irileen

    Nobody (?)

    it wasnt that bad ;)

    Agree? Disagree?...
  • Once Were Worriers

     3

    Chief Squirrel

    Nobody (?)

    The theme of two mothers fretting about their kids is about as plain as a movie can be story-wise. The disparity in ratings here reflects on one hand the desire to protect local film makers compared to whether the movie works on its own merits. The film is neither great nor bad; but there is nothing unique about it.

    Agree? Disagree?...
  • Impressive!

    Fred

    Nobody (?)

    Just got this out on DVD. Wow, couldn't believe that this film is a LOW BUDGET! The cost is only a third and sometimes a quarter of most kiwi films and it looks amazing - I'm studying film. Even on DVD it looked great and at least it has style and taste, unlike many low budget movies. So well done to the filmmakers.

    A solid simple story with a big heart. Recommend this to anyone.

    Agree? Disagree?...
  • Apron Strings?

     1

    Disappointed

    Nobody (?)

    one word...
    CR*P.

    Agree? Disagree?...
  • No.

     1

    anon

    Nobody (?)

    There's no negative 1.

    Agree? Disagree?...
  • Looked beautiful, only if story was better

     4

    Masha

    Nobody (?)

    It looked great for a low budget, compared to other kiwi films. I would agree with the official reviews so far, some lovely performances, looks great and lots of style, just the story wasn't too strong and a bit loose, particularly the Indian story which gives the film lots of colour and texture. Yes, agreed it is stereotypical but I thought it was stylistically intended that way.

    Loved Jennifer Ludlum and Jodi Rimmer - most real and heartfelt. Nice to see a film with Indian content in NZ for once! Must be a first.

    Agree? Disagree?...
  • Brilliant

     5

    Colin Cleave

    Nobody (?)

    I was enthralled with the movie, excellent script, great plot.
    Five stars from me. And I might add I have no connections to anyone or anything in the movie industry.
    I am gutted to read so much negative stuff here, talk about tall poppy stuff.
    Well done everyone connected with this movie.

    Agree? Disagree?...
  • Captivating!

     4

    Alexandria

    Nobody (?)

    I thoroughly enjoyed the film although the ending didnt feel quite right. Like it didnt feel like "the end" but it also did not feel like it was left kinda open on purpose(leading to a potential sequel) it just didnt feel quite like it had ended properly. Apart from that I really enjoyed it and loved the regular references to food...I think that worked in really well with the storyline as the food helped relate the audience to the cultural uniquness of each character. I thought Scott Wills did an amazing job as the down-n-out gambling addict too :-)

    Agree? Disagree?...
  • Excellent movie

     4

    Pat

    Nobody (?)

    Captured the tension of disfunctional families very well. Was different from other films with cross-cultural themes, bringing a new perspective. Most actors exceptionally good. I was totally absorbed from beginning to end. Very glad I went and am telling all my family and friends to go. Good luck with getting funding to make some more movies.

    Agree? Disagree?...
  • disgrace

     1

    mary p

    Nobody (?)

    Awful film written by hack amateur screenwriters. This should never have been given funding. Especially seeing as the budget was 2 million and it's grossed under a 100 grand. Great use of tax payers money.

    Yeah right

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Press Reviews

  • NZ Herald [Peter Calder]

     3

    With a bit of luck, it will be the first of many movies that grapple with our changing ethnic identity. If only for that reason, and for all its faults, it deserves attention.
    Read full review

  • TV3 [Kate Rodger]

     3

    A couple of stand-out performances added impact to an often lightweight script, but overall this is mature debut feature for Sima Urale.
    Read full review

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