The Insatiable Moon (15) ***

May 8 2011 by Roz Laws, Sunday Mercury

THE INSATIABLE MOON (15)

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CAST: Rawiri Paratene, Sara Wiseman, Greg Johnson

PLOT: Charming and friendly Maori psychiatric patient Arthur (Paratene) introduces himself as the second son of God. He belongs to a group of misfits, the homeless and mentally ill, taken in by Bob (Johnson) in his Auckland boarding house. Their future is under threat when neighbours start complaining, while Arthur woos social worker Margaret (Wiseman).

GOOD POINTS: This New Zealand/Birmingham production (it’s made by Digbeth-based Blue Hippo Media) is full of heart and good intentions. Amusing and poignant in places, it has a good central performance from Paratene.

BAD POINTS: It’s hard to believe that Margaret would sleep with a man she barely knows, who hears voices, without a thought for her husband. I found this love story more unconvincing than touching, and the movie-makers ‘rose-tinted view of mental illness – even paedophiles should be forgiven – is simplistic. The ending is more rushed and confused than emotional.

SHOULD I SEE IT? If you like unusual human dramas, see this out at Birmingham’s MAC. Wednesday’s screening includes a Q&A with Birmingham producers Pip Piper and Rob Taylor.