Easter with Arthur

Makers of the independent New Zealand film The Insatiable Moon are touting it as an Easter reflection. They claim that Arthur – the hero of the story, played by Rawiri Paratene – will bring more bounce to Easter than any number of bunnies.

Arthur of Ponsonby may not be Jesus of Nazareth, but he does claim to be the second son of God, and sets out to tell the world. He’s also a Maori psychiatric patient living in a boarding house. When asked if he’s God, he replies: “Nah – just a rellie”.

As in the original gospels, Arthur has a habit of innocently tipping prejudice and materialism on its head, with a great line of insightful humour. For Easter traditionalists, there’s even a death and half a resurrection.

Screenwriter Mike Riddell, a former Baptist minister, says people shouldn’t get upset that the second son of God seems to indulge in an adulterous affair. “After all,” he says, “Jesus had a foot rub from a prostitute. The gospels are full of scandal.”

Like the original Messiah, Arthur hangs out with the down and outs – including a homeless alcoholic (Ian Mune), a former paedophile, and a ragtag bunch of street people with various mental health problems.

Together they create mayhem and hilarity as they face off with the ‘normal’ Ponsonby inhabitants.

The novel by the same name, on which the movie was based, was regarded by some as blasphemous, and even referred to the Censor’s office as potentially pornographic. It cost Riddell his job as a lecturer in theology. “I was just pleased crucifixion had gone out of fashion,” he reflects.

The movie, denied production funding by the NZ Film Commission, has become something of a cult classic since its release, earning praise both here and in Britain where it recently opened in Leicester Square. The prestigious Empire magazine awarded it four stars and described it as “a moving original film that deserves to be seen.”

Just in time for Easter, the film is being released into the NZ market on DVD. Riddell hopes the story of Arthur will provide some Easter joy to the world. “He’s a half-baked miracle worker, and like a good Edmonds recipe, sure to rise.”