The Insatiable Moon

2010, 99 minutes

When Arthur, self-proclaimed second son of God, sets out to save the world he loves

When Arthur, self-proclaimed second son of God, sets out to save the world he loves, miracles can happen. He brings wonder and hope to his enchanted urban life, shadowed by his devoted band of boarding house friends. The foul-mouthed house manager Bob cares for the men with a rough sort of love. Fragile community worker Margaret, struggling with infertility and an empty marriage, wonders at her own grip on reality when she falls for the charismatic Maori man after a chance meeting. A night of mystical sex under the light of that looming moon leaves her teetering on the brink of fantasy. Was it all meant to be? But Arthur, single-minded, must be about his mission. When the closure of his communal home is threatened, he sees an opportunity to prove his heavenly credentials. Arthur preaches his vision of a just and caring society to those who would destroy his world. Just when it seems he has worked another of his miracles, his own mind begins to disintegrate. The centre won't hold. Increasingly confused and distracted, he is confined to the local psychiatric ward, where doctors pronounce him delusional and drug him into submission. Those like Margaret who have come to believe in him face a new and agonising doubt. Has it all come to nothing? Was Arthur's insight offered in vain? But even in the face of despair, it seems that Arthur’s magic continues... The story so far... The Insatiable Moon is a feature film adaptation of the novel of the same name. It stars Rawiri Paratene (Whale Rider), Sara Wiseman, and Ian Mune. Set in the urban village of Ponsonby in Auckland (NZ), the film tells the story of Arthur - a charismatic psychiatric patient who believes himself to be the second son of God. Together with his band of boarding house mates, Arthur sets out to find the Queen of Heaven and save his world. Along the way there are many adventures, tragedies and triumphs. Seven years in development, The Insatiable Moon was shot on location in Ponsonby during the latter part of 2009. As a NZ/UK coproduction, the project attracted an international crew and a first class New Zealand cast. Award winning director Rosemary Riddell teamed up with the brilliant Canadian DOP Thomas Burstyn to capture superb performances. Operating under a philosophy of 'Frugal Filmmaking', the highly mobile crew were able to concentrate on story and drama. Remarkably, they wrapped within 5 weeks of shooting. The film is now in post-production, heading toward a theatrical release around September of 2010. It is targeted at an international audience, with its strong universal themes and genuinely feel-good character. Global rights are currently available - contact The Insatiable Moon for further enquiries.

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