Rubbings From A Live Man

“Bewitching” Kiwi documentary garners nationwide release.

Rubbings From A Live Man
A documentary performed by Warwick Broadhead and directed by Florian Habicht
(NZ, 75 minutes, R13: Contains Adult Themes)

Rubbings From a Live Man, the documentary that bewitched audiences at this year’s NZ International Film Festival, has gone on to achieve a general release throughout New Zealand from 6 November.

In Rubbings From a Live Man, director Florian Habicht (Woodenhead, Kaikohe Demolition) crafts together a flamboyant, tour-de-force exploration of the life and times of the incomparable Warwick Broadhead. Broadhead’s career as a performing artist and director has spanned four decades – from Full Moon Follies in 1972 through to 1999’s A Delicate Quest and on to The Resting Show; a grand community project planned for 2009. Until now he’s never allowed his work to be recorded.

Habicht takes a unique approach to documentary filmmaking as Broadhead re-enacts the highest and lowest points of his life through various alter-egos and vignettes that lavish his story upon the screen. Together filmmaker and subject revisit Broadhead’s childhood in 50’s Kiwi suburbia, his wild ecstatic 60’s in San Francisco and a heap of trauma, exaltation and grief ever since.

Habicht’s distinctive and original films have a strong following in New Zealand and have also placed his feet firmly on the global scene – both Woodenhead and Kaikohe Demolition were picked up by film festivals across the world. He heads to New York in 2009 for his latest project, described as his “own version of Sex In The City.”

Joining this dynamic creative partnership is producer Philippa Campbell, whose second feature, Christine Jeff’s internationally acclaimed Rain, Habicht particularly admires. Philippa has gone on to produce Toa Fraser’s Sundance award winner No. 2, and more recently Jonathan King’s Black Sheep.

“It's rare to see such a creative and singular spirit captured so completely on film, and this makes for compelling viewing. Moving and fascinating!” - Michael Hurst

"Have seen [this] wonderful witness to human suffering and joy. Was very moved." - Gaylene Preston

A unique collaboration between two of New Zealand’s most original artists, Rubbings from a Live Man is a testament to one man’s ability to stare his life in the face, by performing it anew.

Event listed by Elephant Publicity

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