Premiere of NZ film hosted
Poppy screening to benefit Special Olympics athletes
Aspecial viewing of the New Zealand film Poppy has been arranged for Thursday, June 3 at Embassy 3.
Organised by the St Andrew Kilwinning Freemasons Lodge of Whanganui, it is a chance to see the film, enjoy a pre-film social time with wine and nibbles, and also meet the producer, Robin Laing, director Linda Niccol and Poppy herself, Libby Hunsdale.
All ticket proceeds will go towards assisting local athletes to attend the Special Olympic Summer Games.
Behind the event is master of St Andrew Kilwinning Lodge, Craig Ancell.
“As soon as I found out that Libby was in the film, I thought, we have to use that,” he says.
Libby is the granddaughter of Barbara and the late Ormie Andrews. A one-term Whanganui District councillor, Ormie was a longtime active member of the lodge. He died in 2018.
“I thought, when the film comes out, we can align ourselves with it,” says Craig.
Libby spoke at the Lodge’s St Andrew’s Night in November last year. “She’s such a delight.”
Craig suggested to Barbara Andrews that the Lodge run a charity night using the Embassy’s 80-seat theatre.
He approached Gary Vinnell, Embassy proprietor, who suggested holding off the launch of the film until June 3, when Robin Laing and Libby were available to be there and, as a premiere, the 150-seat theatre would be ideal.
Tickets sold quickly, booking out the larger theatre, so the film is being run simultaneously in Embassy 3’s 80-seat theatre as well.
With the help of lodge member Craig Sweeney, Wanganui Motors have agreed to lend a new Ford to enable Libby, Linda and Robin to arrive at the theatre in style. What’s Poppy about?
A spirited young woman with Down syndrome assumes she’s entitled to live a life like anyone else, yet the person she trusts most puts her in the “disability” box, forcing her to find support where she can and to employ secret strategies to achieve her goal of an independent life.
Her ambition to become a motor mechanic — starting with the apprenticeship promised by her late father — is stalled by her super protective brother and it’s not until she teams up with an ex-school friend who needs his car repaired in time to enter the local burnout competition that her plans progress.
Linda Niccol’s joyful tribute to a young woman who won’t take no for an answer makes the point, in a quietly observational style, that everyone has the right to fulfil their potential.