Early Peter Jackson Film: Heavenly Creatures
New Zealand Movie Stars Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey
Dec 15, 2008
"There are living amongst two dutiful daughters
Of a man possesses two beautiful daughters
The most glorious beings in creation...
And above us these goddesses reign on high.
"I worship the power of these lovely two
With that adoring love known to so few.
'Tis indeed a miracle, one must feel
That two such heavenly creatures are real.
...And these two wonderful people are you and I."
by Pauline Yvonne Parker (Now known as Anne Perry)
On June 22, 1954 on a walking track in the Port Hills towering over Christchurch, New Zealand, 15 year old Pauline Yvonne Parker (Melanie Lynskey) and her 16 year old companion Juliet Hulme (Kate Winslet) repeatedly hit Pauline's mother, Honora over the head with a brick in a stocking until she was dead.
The girls apparently saw this as the only way to 'be together' as they prepared for their ascent into a fantasy 'fourth world', a place that Juliet quoted as being "even better than heaven".
They saw Mrs Parker as an obstacle in their path, so removed her, in one of the most vicious murders in New Zealand history.
The Story
Focusing more on the friendship of the two girls than the incident that made them infamous, Heavenly Creatures is an intense portrayal of the exuberant imaginations of Pauline and Juliet.
Juliet's wealthy family moves around a lot, and when Juliet is transferred to loner Pauline's school, the two outcasts become friends.
The girls begin to write stories about a fantasy world they call Borovnia, where celebrities including Orson Wells are worshipped as villains and saints.
Pauline and Juliet are separated for a time, and begin writing to each other as both themselves, and their alter egos, the Royals of Borovnia. While apart, Pauline is courted by a gentleman living at her mother's boarding house who is discovered in her bed by her father.
Upon being reunited, the relationship between the two young women becomes deeper, with Pauline's doctor eventually diagnosing her as homosexual, which was illegal in the 1950s in New Zealand.
Juliet's parents decide to send her to South Africa to live with her aunt, which prompts the girls to take drastic action to be together.
Including special effects by then newly formed Weta Workshop and the imaginations of Peter Jackson, Heavenly Creatures is sad in parts, visually stunning throughout and as played out in real life, has a dramatic and disturbing conclusion.
Most Memorable Quote
"All the best people have bad chests and bone diseases. It's all frightfully romantic." Juliet (Kate Winslet)
The Writer/Director
Before directing Heavenly Creatures, Peter Jackson tucked some low budget films under his belt which have now become cult classics. Those titles also include Bad Taste and Meet The Feebles.
Famous for his 'eye', differing angles and attention to detail, Peter Jackson has been the driving force in putting New Zealand on the map both for producing filmmaking talent, as well as portraying the country as an affordable and visually stunning place to shoot films.
An interesting fact about Heavenly Creatures, is that Peter Jackson and partner/co-writer Fran Walsh visited New Zealand schools looking for a Pauline lookalike. Melanie Lynskey was discovered, and was cast although she had no acting experience at all.
Peter and Fran spent a lot of time researching the film, contacting those who had gone to school with Pauline and Juliet, as well as neighbours, family friends and psychologists.
The Verdict
Heavenly Creatures is a dark fantasy tale that makes the watcher feel sympathy for the outcast girls - until the final sequence that is. The story is complex and the depth of the friendship between Pauline and Juliet is made very evident by the strong performances by Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey.
For true story, murder/mystery and New Zealand history fans, Heavenly Creatures is a must see.
