Goodbye Pork Pie
| Goodbye Pork Pie | |
| Image:Goodbye Pork Pie Poster.jpg | |
| Directed by | Geoff Murphy |
| Written by | Ian Mune, Geoff Murphy |
| Starring | Tony Barry, Kelly Johnston, Bruno Lawrence |
| Produced by | Unknown |
| Distributed by | Unknown |
| Release date | 1981 |
| Runtime | 105 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $Unknown |
| IMDb page | |
Goodbye Pork Pie is a 1981 film directed by Geoff Murphy and written by Ian Mune, with assistance from Geoff Murphy. The film is considered to be one of New Zealand's most popular films.
Contents |
Plot
The film's story is centered around a North Island-South Island road trip the length of New Zealand. Gerry Austin, who is played by Kelly Johnson is a confused 19 year old who gives a stellar performance.
At the top of the North Island, Austin opportunistically steals a wallet abandoned by an obnoxious woman. He uses the identity inside and takes on her name of Leslie. With his new found identity he rents a (then brand new) yellow Mini, which is nicknamed "Pork Pie" after the name on his sun hat. With no particular aim in mind, he drifts down to Auckland.
Meanwhile, dear "John" Tony Barry, is walking aimlessly through the city after his wife, Sue, dumped him to go to Invercargill.
Gerry is stopped by a traffic officer for failing to wear a seat belt, but rescued when a passing John intervenes and insists Gerry was wearing the belt. Gerry gives John a lift, and though neither of them know where they are going. Gerry and John pick up a hitch-hiking troubled ex-ex-pat, Shirley Claire Oberman, who is heading for family in Wanganui. Maybe.
The trio drift south, paying their way by selling parts of the car they drive — the metaphors aren't subtle. Gradually it becomes clear the only person with a place to go is John, who's heart belongs in Invercargill. The trio forget to pay for petrol, which is reported to the police. The Mini is reported stolen. The police label them the Blondini gang, and a pursuit is on, while more and more of the car is sold off to wreckers.
The plot is minimal, basically man alone becomes two men alone. But the dialogue is realistic and often witty, as are a series of visual jokes (including a much quoted jump cut from Gerry vomiting to John splurting ketchup on his dinner). The film is really made by a series of no CGI car chase sequences which put The Italian Job to shame, including hide and seek in a Smash Palace car wreckers and a stunning pursuit through Wellington's railway station ending in the Mini jumping into a moving boxcar.
The film itself is filmed across New Zealand in Auckland, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch the Southern Alps and finally Invercargill.
Cast
- Tony Barry as John
- Kelly Johnston as Gerry Austin
- Claire Oberman as Shirl
- Shirley Gruar as Sue
- Bruno Lawrence as Mulvaney
Summary
Though coming after Sleeping Dogs, the release of Goodbye Pork Pie is considered to be the coming-of-age of New Zealand cinema as it showed that New Zealanders can make successful films about New Zealand. It was the first really financially successful New Zealand film of modern times.