NZ Film Festival: TrinityRoots, Music Is Choice

Sarah Hunter’s music-filled documentary is a sharp and lively memento of the jazz-inflected Wellington reggae unit TrinityRoots. Lead singer/guitarist Warren Maxwell, Rio Hunuki-Hemopo and Riki Gooch formed TrinityRoots in the early '90s and sang their last of their plaintive, drifting three-way harmonies at the Wellington Town Hall in February 2005 in a sellout concert to raise relief funds for the Boxing Day Tsunami.

In interviews shot soon after the break-up, the band members look back with unassuming pleasure and good humour on the way things usually came together for them – such things as two much appreciated albums, True and Home Land and Sea with its anthemic title track protesting the seabed and foreshore legislation and the purchase of land by overseas interests. The film draws on generous footage of the band rehearsing, recording and performing, along with friendly testimony from critics, collaborators and their mums. — BG

Warren Maxwell performs a live soundtrack with Maaka McGregor and Himiona Grace at the Festival (see Under the Southern Cross).

Director: Sarah Hunter.
Year: 2010
Running time: 70 mins

Producer: Sarah Hunter
Executive producers: Gareth Moon, Will Moore
Photography: Chris Hiles, Paul Wedel, William Moore, Chris Graham, Reuben Sutherland, Sarah Hunter, Sticky Pictures
Editor: Paul Wedel
Sound: James Dawson, Sam Spicer, Paul Wedel
Music: TrinityRoots
DigiBeta

With: Warren Maxwell, Rio Hunuki-Hemopo, Riki Gooch, Trace Brown, Toby Larmer, ‘Dr’ Lee Prebble, DJ MU aka Chris Faiumu, Chris Graham, Grant Smithies, Brian Ruawai

Event listed by MCH Admin

View their other events or contact promoter