Illustrious Energy


Illustrious Energy is a New Zealand film released in 1988. It was filmed in Otago and was directed by Leon Narbey.

Cast

  • Shaun Bao as Chan
  • Harry Ip as Kim
  • Peter Chin as Wong
  • Desmond Kelly as Surveyor
  • Peter Hayden as Reverend Don
  • Heather Bolton as Mrs Wong
  • Geeling Ng as Li
  • David Telford as Stan Pasco

Reception

Lynell George from LA Weekly gave the film a mixed review, praising the lead actors but stating that the "film's weakness lies in the script". Honolulu Star-Advertiser's Peter Rosegg says it is "a beautiful film, with long, meaningful shots of stunning, wide-screen scenery" but not enough happens early in the film and when it finally gets moving it is "low-key and under dramatized". Burl Burlingame, writing in Honolulu Star-Bulletin, says it "starts out so low-key it's almost comatose" but encourages viewers to stick with it as it "picks up steam". Michael Wilmington in the Los Angeles Times mentions the film noting that it is "richly photographed" but otherwise "it's a lugubrious tale".

Awards

New Zealand Film and TV Awards 1988