History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes

1 x 90 min theatrical feature documentary and social impact campaign

DIRECTOR: Welby Ings
PRODUCERS: Marilyn McFadyen, Leela Menon

Currently in advanced development with the assistance of the New Zealand Film Commission.

Country of production: New Zealand,

Language: English

Anticipated release date:  Q3 2027

1983 (DAWN) THE HEARTLAND

It is a long drive into the morning. In sweeping shots of the heartland that resemble an idyllic television commercial, a Ford Cortina makes its way across an empty landscape. In the front seat we see WELBY. He is in his late 20s. The interior of the car is a study of details, soft light, a reflection, the movement of wind in the hair. On the radio Sharon O’Neill is singing Maxine. He turns down the volume and glances into the rear vision mirror – worried. We pass a farmer with haybales stacked high on his trailer. Welby glances again into the rear vision mirror and we see the detail of a body in the back seat. The figure is huddled against the door, but something is wrong. Welby reaches back and touches a hand – but the passenger winces and we hear a grunt of pain. There is a sudden flash of violence, a kick in the head – a fragment of memory. Welby’s hand doesn’t move. The passenger reaches down … holds it for a moment, then he lets go.

WELBY’S VOICE:

There are never broken arms or legs. They always go for the head, the arse and groin. It was a two-hour drive to a hospital in another town because he was terrified that the locals would find out. When you live in rural communities – well, they leak. It was the 1980s. People didn’t know he was gay.

Not even his wife.

We know the broad political story of how New Zealand’s homosexual law reform was won in the 1980s, but we rarely hear the voices of the amazing people who paid the price - the gritty activists … the ones who were spat at and arrested … the ones who were shamed and vilified … the ones who are queer.

And NEVER have we heard about the American and Australian evangelist churches, the political lobbyists, who with deep pockets and ideological blinkers, arrived in New Zealand to prevent us achieving any liberal fantasies of change. This film exposes the dark side of international meddling in our domestic politics. Meddling which has become more entrenched with time, as we witness the current worldwide rise of Christian nationalism and the ever-increasing attempts of powerful groups to dismantle our hard won human rights. History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes - and INTERFERENCE calls it out.

TEAM: DAVID OXENBRIDGE, GRANT MACKINNON, DEB FRAME, ROGER GRANT, ROBIN CHARLES, MARCO STAINES