A cult classic South Canterbury-centric comedy film is set to make its return to the big screen in an effort to help raise funds to purchase a historic Geraldine building.
A special screening of The China Cup is to be held at the Geraldine Cinema next month as part of the Geraldine Academy of Performance and Arts Lucky Stars campaign.
The campaign is aiming to raise funds to buy the 117-year-old — Anglican diocese-owned — building that the academy has called home since it was established in 2012.
The China Cup director and academy co-founder Fiona McKenzie said that when she was made aware of the fundraiser she knew she had to do something to help, despite having moved away from Geraldine in 2015.
‘‘It’s literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a group like the Geraldine Academy of Performance and Arts to actually own their own building. As someone who taught at the academy, and co-founded it, I was just like, ‘you guys are so lucky, what can I do?’.
‘‘The China Cup was an artistic venture that a whole lot of people in Geraldine, Temuka and Timaru ended up being involved in. It was very much a time and place thing, and I think everyone who was associated with it just feels really warm and nostalgic about it.
‘‘Rescreening it seemed like the perfect fundraiser to say, ‘let’s get the gang back together, come and see it again and let’s relive the happy days’.’’
The film was shot around Geraldine and Temuka over the course of nine days in 2009 and featured cast and crew from all over South Canterbury, with many having never been anywhere near a film set before.
It was written and produced by Geraldine man Peter Frahm, who also starred in the film, and shot by Mike O’Connor and edited by Chris Jones.
The story follows a daughter and her desire to reconnect with her estranged father.
However, she is disappointed to discover his life is dominated by the whisky he enjoys from her late mother’s favourite china cup.
The film had a red-carpet premiere in 2010 and went on a record-breaking run in Timaru, knocking The World’s Fastest Indian off its perch as the longest-running film at the cinema.
It also successfully played in cinemas in Christchurch, Wellington and Matakana.
Ms McKenzie said she did not expect the film to become as beloved as it had.
‘‘It was a great film but it just took off — people loved it and it just ignited something in local audiences.
‘‘Seeing ourselves on screen is really important and as Kiwis, and we’re getting used to that, but we’re certainly not used to seeing the likes of Temuka or Geraldine.’’
It was nice to be able to give people a chance to see the film again for a good cause, she said.
‘‘It’s really fun to have the opportunity to share it and see all the guys again.
‘‘Sadly some of us have passed on now, like Aaron Williams, who held the boom and was very much a part of the crew.
‘‘The nostalgia is, emotionally, mostly happy, but also it was a time, and we won’t get that time back.
‘‘I’m just really pleased that we get an opportunity to sit in the same theatre we opened it in, for a great cause, and have another laugh together.’’
- The screening is set to take place on September 12 at 7pm.
- A cast and crew Q&A will be held afterwards.
- Tickets are available from Tickets for The China Cup Screening for $20.
