Watch Fantail

Fantail is a 2013 New Zealand drama film directed by Curtis Vowell, and produced by Fraser Brown under the production company 'Libertine Pictures'. The film follows a young woman named Tania (Sophie Henderson) who works as a petrol station attendant in a rough section of Auckland. She has a complicated relationship with her brother, Pi (Jarod Rawiri), who is a member of a local gang.

Tania is of Maori descent and has always felt out of place in her own country. She dreams of traveling to Ireland, the home of her deceased father, and starting a new life. However, her plan seems impossible due to her financial situation, her brother's criminal activities, and her job that requires her attention, even when she's struggling to keep her life together.

One day, a handsome stranger named Ryan (Stephen Lovatt) approaches her at work, and she feels an instant connection to him. He tells her he's from Ireland and that he's come to New Zealand to find his father. Tania feels that Ryan might be the key to making her ambitions a reality so she impulsively invites him to stay with her until he can locate his father, which can take as long as a few weeks.

As the two get to know each other, a deep bond develops. Ryan is the first person who seems to understand her and her desires. They explore the city together and escape their realities by simply being with each other, making Tania feel alive in a way she's never felt before. Her feeling of isolation, her sense of being out of place steadily disappears, and a hope surfaces within her.

The film's narrative exposes the viewers to the cultural clash of the two protagonists. As Ryan unfolds his genuine ignorance towards Maori culture due to his 'cultural understandings' overwriting his genuine curiosity towards Tania's culture, Tania retaliates by expressing the Maori way of seeing the world, which in Ryan's opinion seems smug and hypocritical. A rift arises between the two that underlines the conflict between the modern western sensibility of individualism and the collective harmonious worldview of the Maori.

Meanwhile, Pi, Tania's brother, becomes increasingly violent as he tries to assert his dominance as a gang member. He notices the growing relationship of Tania and Ryan and forces Tania to choose between her family and her future. The conflict between the two siblings is emotionally charged, and Sophie Henderson brings it to life with her powerful and vastly versatile performance.

The film's most significant strength is undoubtedly its screenplay, co-written by Sophie Henderson and Curtis Vowell. The dialogues are authentic, simple and sometimes astoundingly witty with an earthy humour that can have one laugh out loud one moment and feel moved the next. The cinematography handles the juxtaposition of modern city life with the traditional Maori way of living harmoniously. The breathtaking shots of New Zealand's natural beauty immerse the viewers into the beauty of the country, hinting towards Tania's longing to escape.

The characters of Fantail have rawness to them, which adds to the realism of the film. Sophie Henderson's Tania is the beating heart of the movie, and her portrayal is multi-faceted with soulful honesty that makes the viewers root for her from the first scene itself. The talented supporting cast, including Jarod Rawiri and Steven Lovatt, support Sophie's fantastic performance with such grace and veracity that the immersion of Fantail becomes even more potent.

Fantail excellently manages to balance the themes of love, loyalty while delving into the cultural complexity of Maori culture. It's highly emotional, sincere and delivers an honest, unreserved and original portrayal of individuals trying to navigate a landscape of cultural conflicts and personal demons to finally arrive at the point of acceptance and belonging.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a stunningly evocative, perfectly heartfelt, and stirring story infused with the spirit of New Zealand, look no further than Fantail! This movie has everything you could want in a drama, and its authenticity and rawness will leave a lasting impact on you.

Fantail is a 2013 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.