This film was laborious to watch. Being biographical, there was no plot, which in itself was not unexpected but the film just didn't take off. Any twists were obvious a mile off.
I have never heard of Janet Frame or any of her books but I found this account of her life very moving. There are moments of beautifully acted grief and the sense of childhood pain is constant. I found the fairly obvious boot polish on her teeth, as an attempt to portray decay, a little distracting, but overall I recommend this as a moving biography.
Jane Campion's second film was also serialised in three-parts as a TV series in some countries. It's a spirited and very moving tale of a tragic soul who found her voice through literature. One of the very best films to come out of New Zealand. Certainly top 5! On the technical side - this DVD doesn't have subtitles for those that are hard-of-hearing.
Masterpiece.