Well, I’ve started my tiki-tour of the North Island with Russian Snark. The journey hardly began auspiciously:  driving through the King Country I hit the heaviest downpour I can remember – raining so hard I could barely see the car in front even with the windscreen wipers going full speed. And the road became a stream bed, the cars sending up high rooster tails of water into the air. So much for a pleasant cruise through the countryside.

But the Q and A at the Arthouse Cinema in New Plymouth went well – with a warm response to the film and some incisive questions. Francois, who runs the cinema, has created a warm intimate space in the upstairs auditorium of an old theatre. And in these challenging times, when most art movie buffs would rather watch films at home on dvd, he has managed to create a loyal audience willing to make the trip to town on a cold winter’s night.

Tonight’s Q and A is at the Paramount Theatre in Welly. I’ll keep you posted!