Last Paradise

New Zealand, Bali, Hawaii, Australia, 2010, 100minDirector: Clive NeesonCast: Kevin Jarrett, John Neeson, AJ Hackett, Bob McTavish, Nat Young, George Greenough, Allan Byrne A 45-year history of extreme sport in pristine locations. Follow fringe Kiwi mavericks, with Micky Dora and George Greenough, in a fascinating exploration of early technologies that harnessed gravity. A superb mix of 8 and 16mm footage rendered into rich digital life by Clive Neeson is a precious collection of stories thick with the theme of how critical it is that we preserve what remains of the paradise they played in. Sheep farmers and Vietnam war droputs relied on invention (the mother of necessity) from flesh-eating leg ropes at Raglan to the jet boat that became the jet ski; from sliding across mud to the skim board; from scurfing behind boats to the wakeboard, and of course, bungee jumping. You name it, they helped start it. Epic old footage of skiing live volcanoes, and early forays to gardens of Eden in Hawaii, Bali and New Zaylund. “As the ocean dances, the mind slides,” sings someone. Other songs by Cat Stevens. Shew wah! 20h30 Thursday 16 December, Labia Cinema (with shorts)