Wellington. Our nation’s Capital. Some say the Melbourne of New Zealand, although I’m not sure why we have to categorise cities as particular genres. I understand the comparison. Terrible weather, ergo rich and quirky cultural life. But Wellington is really very different to any other city.
Its geography alone, perched precariously on the very bottom edge
of the map of the North Island, provides much of its character. Colonial wooden
houses stacked up on one another all sliding down to a central core of
business, diplomatic hub, political machinations, excellent food, world class
coffee and the sea.
A good friend of mine maintains that ‘you can’t beat Wellington on a good day’. That may well be because Wellington doesn’t have a lot of good days. Or maybe that’s unfair. The weather is certainly variable and can certainly be nasty; it is not haphazard that Wellington bears the nickname, Windy Wellington. But on a good day, wow. When the sky is an impossible blue and a sharp contrast to the brilliant white of the cumulous which edge the horizon and you are walking along the waterfront or even sitting with a glass wine and just taking it all in, in that moment, you really can’t beat it.
A good friend of mine maintains that ‘you can’t beat Wellington on a good day’. That may well be because Wellington doesn’t have a lot of good days. Or maybe that’s unfair. The weather is certainly variable and can certainly be nasty; it is not haphazard that Wellington bears the nickname, Windy Wellington. But on a good day, wow. When the sky is an impossible blue and a sharp contrast to the brilliant white of the cumulous which edge the horizon and you are walking along the waterfront or even sitting with a glass wine and just taking it all in, in that moment, you really can’t beat it.
I love Wellington. I love the idea of the people coming down
from the hills to go to work and drink coffee and activate the small valley. I
love that Wellington has some of the best coffee I have ever tasted. I love the
fact that, for a nation’s capital, Wellington doesn’t take itself seriously. It
is willing to embrace a more alternative perspective to life; Middle Earth
references, surely one of the stranger parliamentary buildings in the world; a
museum that is far from dusty and staid and now, a reputation as the home of
vampires, Viago, Vladislav and Deacon.
Taika Waititi is a clever director. The promotion of his film, What We Do in the Shadows, through social media, a beer label and through changing the W on the Hollywood style Wellington sign to a blood-red V, if nothing else, ensured that the horror comedy mockumentary was received in the style it deserves.
Seen through the eyes of the documentary film crew who follow them, we roam the Wellington streets at night as the trio try to get into nightclubs, meet girls, and find sustenance. Receiving rave reviews from moviegoers and film festival audiences, Waititi’s film has had mixed reviews from critics.
For me, it was comic genius. Deadpan, awkward New Zealand humour at its best. Watching it at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington with an equally appreciative and very lovely moviegoer was the ultimate treat.
Taika Waititi is a clever director. The promotion of his film, What We Do in the Shadows, through social media, a beer label and through changing the W on the Hollywood style Wellington sign to a blood-red V, if nothing else, ensured that the horror comedy mockumentary was received in the style it deserves.
Seen through the eyes of the documentary film crew who follow them, we roam the Wellington streets at night as the trio try to get into nightclubs, meet girls, and find sustenance. Receiving rave reviews from moviegoers and film festival audiences, Waititi’s film has had mixed reviews from critics.
For me, it was comic genius. Deadpan, awkward New Zealand humour at its best. Watching it at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington with an equally appreciative and very lovely moviegoer was the ultimate treat.
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