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Career
editCaro's first experience directing any sort of film was when she was hired to create commercials for different companies such as the New Zealand Land Transport Safety Authority, Nike and Tower Insurance.[1]
Caro's first feature film, Memory and Desire, was meant to be a showcase of New Zealand culture and lifestyle (aligning with the start of the 100% Pure New Zealand tourism campaign by the New Zealand tourism section of the government), but it fell short; seeing disappointing results at the box office and mixed international reviews.[2] This was especially true in Japan, where the film was deemed to have not captured the essence of Japanese culture, despite its attempts to evoke money and consult from possible Japanese investors.[3]
The film is meant to use landscapes to juxtapose the characters and their origins. The calm and relaxed outdoor setting of New Zealand is meant to oppose the hustle and bustle of the big, busy city of Tokyo. It works twofold because the contrast also works for the comparison of the "civilized" parts of New Zealand against the wild outdoors, showing off the two different sections of the country in an effort to advertise to multiple groups of people considering visiting the country. The tourism board looked to use landscapes as the most enticing factor in a tourist's eyes, along with people, adventure and culture.[4] The film shows evidence of this by implying that Keiji and Sayo are unable to consummate their marriage anywhere but in the outdoors due to Keiji being unable to achieve an erection in an urban setting, emphasizing the "natural" state of humanism of being connected to the surrounding landscapes.[3] Along the couple's trip they encounter different New Zealand tourist hotspots such as; the Museum of Technology and Rotorua's spa pools in the West Coast Beach. It is also in contrast of the bland hotel rooms that the couple stay in, as if to say that the only time they are truly free is when they are outside in nature, specifically New Zealand's nature.[3]
Caro's second film, Whale Rider, had a budget of 2 million[2] which is considered small for a major film, but it was still considered to be a good interpretation of the indigenous story that it was trying to interpret and demonstrate.
Whale Rider would also go on to become New Zealand's most financially successful film and either the film, or Caro herself, would win or be nominated for over 50 different awards from different, international film festivals.[1]
Caro will also be writing and directing the biogrpahical film Callas, about the famous opera singer Maria Callas and her relationship with billionaire Aristotle Onassis.[5]
Awards and Recognition
edit- Her film, Memory and Desire won a Special Jury Prize at the New Zealand Film and Television Awards[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Niki Caro". tribute.ca. February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ a b Garcia, Maria (June 2003). "Whale Rider". Film Journal International. 106 (Issue 6): p43.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help);|issue=has extra text (help);|page=has extra text (help) - ^ a b c Leotta, Alfio (October 2012). "Quarterly Review of Film and Video: "100% Pure New Zealand": the Tourist Gaze in Niki Caro's Memory and Desire". Scholars Portal Journals (29(5) ed.). pp. 440–449.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Morgan, N. J.; et al. (2003). "Destination Branding and the Role of the Stakeholders: The Case of New Zealand". Journal of Vacation Marketing. 9 (3): 285.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Explicit use of et al. in:|first=(help) - ^ Horst, Carole (May 19, 2014). "Niki Caro Set to Direct Maria Callas Biopic". Variety. Retrieved February 25, 2016.