Shopping (2013 film)

Shopping is a 2013 New Zealand coming-of-age film written and directed by Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland. It stars Kevin Paulo as a mixed race Samoan New Zealander who falls in with a group of shoplifters led by an Eastern-European immigrant played by Jacek Koman. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2013 and was released in New Zealand on 30 May 2013.

Shopping
Film poster
Directed by
Produced by
  • Sarah Shaw
  • Anna McLeish
Written by
  • Mark Albiston
  • Louis Sutherland
Starring
Music byGrayson Gilmour
CinematographyGinny Loane
Edited byAnnie Collins
Production
company
Distributed byMadman Entertainment
Release date
  • January 2013 (2013-01) (Sundance)
  • 30 May 2013 (2013-05-30) (NZ)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish
Box officeUS$82,756 (NZ)[1]

Plot

On the Kapiti Coast in 1981, mixed-race teenager Willie and his younger brother, Solomon, spend increasing amounts of time away from their violent father and religious mother. Willie draws the appreciation of professional thief Bennie after unintentionally aiding one of his robberies. Drawn to the camaraderie of Bennie's gang, Willie must decide whether to follow them as they move on or stay behind to care for Solomon.

Cast
  • Kevin Paulo as Willie
  • Julian Dennison as Solomon
  • Jacek Koman as Bennie
  • Alistair Browning as Terry, Willie's father
  • Laura Petersen as Nicky, Bennie's daughter
  • Maureen Fepuleai as Willie's mother
  • Byron Coll as Lindsay
  • Matthias Luafutu as Red

Production

The film was inspired by real life events for writer-directors Albiston and Sutherland, who grew up together. It is their feature film debut, after having collaborated in short films. Shopping followed Boy, another New Zealand coming-of-age film about a boy of Polynesian descent, but Albiston said Boy was more of an inspiration in that it showed there was a market for such stories than creatively. Sutherland, who was working on the script at the time of Boy's release, did not watch it. Casting for Shopping was difficult; Sutherland said they toured many colleges to find their lead but eventually stumbled upon Paulo at a restaurant. Dennison was cast after extensive auditions, and Petersen, a drama student at the time, was discovered at a local college.[2] During production, the two directors would split jobs, which they later described as a poor use of their collaborative skills.[3] They said they were often told they were doing things improperly; at first, they found this unnerving but eventually found it exciting "because we know we're working unconventionally".[4]

Release

Shopping premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2013.[5] Madman Entertainment released it in New Zealand on 30 May 2013, and it grossed $US82,756.[1]

Reception

The New Zealand Herald rated it 4/5 stars and called it "an affecting, memorable movie that is sure to figure in local best-of-year lists" despite minor issues in plotting.[6] The Dominion Post rated it 4/5 stars and wrote that it "looks great and has great performances".[7] The Manawatu Standard instead criticized the film's lack of plotting in favor of cinematography, rating it 1/5 stars.[8] American trade publications Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, commenting on the film's uncompromising authenticity, both said that outsiders may find it different to understand or relate to.[9][10] Variety called it "a rough-hewn but confident first feature" that takes too much influence from the filmmakers' background in short films,[9] and The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the film "sacrifice[s] clarity and character involvement" for its intentionally rough aesthetic.[10] Screen Daily similarly wrote that the film makes no concessions to outsiders but is "a labour of love" that film festival audiences will enjoy.[11]

Awards
OrganizationAwardRecipientResultRef
Asia Pacific Screen AwardsBest Children's Feature FilmSarah Shaw and Anna McLeishNominated[12]
Berlin International Film FestivalGrand Prix of the Generation 14+Louis Sutherland and Mark AlbistonWon[13]
Pacific MeridianSpecial Jury AwardLouis Sutherland and Mark AlbistonWon[14]
2013 Rialto Channel New Zealand Film AwardsBest FilmAnna McLeish and Sarah ShawWon[15]
Best DirectorLouis Sutherland and Mark Albiston
Best ScreenplayLouis Sutherland and Mark Albiston
Best Supporting ActorJulian Dennison
Best Supporting ActressLaura Petersen
Best CinematographyGinny Loane
Best Poster DesignGeoff Francis
Best ActorKevin PauloNominated[16]
Best EditorAnnie Collins
Best ScoreGrayson Gilmour
Best SoundMichael Hopkins, Ken Saville, John Mckay, Tim Chaproniere, Pete Smith
Best Costume DesignLucy McLay
Best Production DesignJosh O'Neill

References
  1. "Shopping (2013)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  2. Jenkin, Lydia (16 May 2013). "Let's go Shopping". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  3. "Meet the 2013 Sundance Filmmakers #57: Louis Sutherland & Mark Albiston Take From Their Past in Shopping". Indiewire. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  4. "Shopping | Directors Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland". Filmmaker. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  5. "Shopping to premiere at Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals". New Zealand Film Commission. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  6. Baillie, Russell (30 May 2013). "Movie review: Shopping". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  7. Burgess, Linda (1 June 2013). "Kiwi film beautifully yearning". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  8. Lacy, Judith (6 June 2013). "Budget plot proves a stinker". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  9. Lodge, Guy (4 March 2013). "Film Review: 'Shopping'". Variety. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  10. Rooney, David (25 January 2013). "Shopping: Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  11. Hatherley, Frank (15 June 2013). "Shopping". Screen Daily. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  12. "Nominees announced for Asia Pacific Screen Awards". Special Broadcasting Service. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  13. "Film leads can't believe their luck". The Dominion Post. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  14. Frater, Patrick (15 September 2013). "'Ilo Ilo' Sweeps Vladivostok Festival". Variety. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  15. "Prizes for Shopping film". Stuff.co.nz. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  16. "NZ film award contenders revealed". The New Zealand Herald. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
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