Poster for ‘Sleeping Dogs’ (1977); New Zealand Film Commission 119 Ghuznee S...
Name/Title
Poster for ‘Sleeping Dogs’ (1977)
Poster for ‘Sleeping Dogs’ (1977)
About this object
Poster for feature film ‘Sleeping Dogs’ (Aardvark Films 1977). Produced and directed by Roger Donaldson, the film starred Sam Neill and Ian Mune. Mune also co-wrote the screenplay with Arthur Baysting based on the novel ‘Smith’s Dream’ by C K Stead (1971). Set in a fictional country, the story follows a reclusive character named Smith who is caught between a repressive government and a violent resistance movement during a time of state tyranny. In a press book for the film Donaldson commented on the film’s political nature: ‘I think ‘Sleeping Dogs’ has something important to say. Civil liberties are declining fast in many parts of the world. Although they don’t all suffer from events as violent as those in the movie, there have been plenty of indications in the last few years that New Zealand is becoming a constricted democracy [...] we should beware of giving anyone too much power in the belief that he won’t abuse it.’
The New Zealand Film Commission - the establishment of which was announced at the film’s Auckland premiere, in October 1977 - became the film’s sales agent [in 1980]. In 1982 ‘Sleeping Dogs’ was the first New Zealand feature to be released in America. It was also released to popular and critical acclaim in the Soviet Union.
Poster for feature film ‘Sleeping Dogs’ (Aardvark Films 1977). Produced and directed by Roger Donaldson, the film starred Sam Neill and Ian Mune. Mune also co-wrote the screenplay with Arthur Baysting based on the novel ‘Smith’s Dream’ by C K Stead (1971). Set in a fictional country, the story follows a reclusive character named Smith who is caught between a repressive government and a violent resistance movement during a time of state tyranny. In a press book for the film Donaldson commented on the film’s political nature: ‘I think ‘Sleeping Dogs’ has something important to say. Civil liberties are declining fast in many parts of the world. Although they don’t all suffer from events as violent as those in the movie, there have been plenty of indications in the last few years that New Zealand is becoming a constricted democracy [...] we should beware of giving anyone too much power in the belief that he won’t abuse it.’
The New Zealand Film Commission - the establishment of which was announced at the film’s Auckland premiere, in October 1977 - became the film’s sales agent [in 1980]. In 1982 ‘Sleeping Dogs’ was the first New Zealand feature to be released in America. It was also released to popular and critical acclaim in the Soviet Union.
Maker
Aardvark Films New Zealand
Aardvark Films New Zealand
Maker Role
Film Production Company
Film Production Company
Maker
New Zealand Film Commission 119 Ghuznee St Wellington New Zealand 04 382 7680
New Zealand Film Commission 119 Ghuznee St Wellington New Zealand 04 382 7680
Maker Role
Film Sales Agent
Film Sales Agent
Date Made
c.1980
c.1980
Place Made
New Zealand
Medium and Materials
Paper offset print
Paper offset print
Measurements
66 x 87cm (WH)
66 x 87cm (WH)
Credit Line
Deposited by the New Zealand Film Commission
Deposited by the New Zealand Film Commission
Object Type
Poster
Poster
Object number
PO02509
PO02509
Tags
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