Jubilee (2000 film)

Jubilee
Release poster (text-less version)
Directed byMichael Hurst
Screenplay byMichael Bennett
Based onJubilee by Nepi Solomon
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyLeon Narbey
Edited byEric de Beus
Music by
  • David Donaldson
  • Steve Roche
  • Janet Roddick
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures International (Australasia)
Release date
  • 13 April 2000 (2000-04-13) (New Zealand)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish
BudgetNZ$1.8 million

Jubilee is a 2000 New Zealand comedy drama film directed by Michael Hurst and written by Michael Bennett, based on the 1994 novel of the same name by Nepi Solomon. The film stars Cliff Curtis, Theresa Healey, and Kevin Smith, with a supporting cast including Hori Ahipene, Jaime Passier-Armstrong, Marise Wipani, Eru Potaka-Dewes, and Bruce Hopkins. Jubilee was Hurst's feature film directorial debut, as well as Curtis' debut as lead.

In the film, Billy Williams (Curtis) takes over the organisation of the Waimatua School 75th Jubilee, and attempts to redeem his reputation of being a procrastinator who struggles to get things done. However, his wife Pauline (Healey) begins to question her life choices when the event is attended by famous rugby player Max Seddon (Smith), with whom she has a past connection.

The film was produced by South Pacific Pictures and funded by the New Zealand Film Commission, with a budget of NZ$1.8M. It was distributed by Universal Pictures International and released on 13 April 2000. A DVD version was released in 2003 and 2004, for regions 2 and 4, respectively.

Jubilee received praise in New Zealand and saw Curtis win Best Actor at the 2000 Nokia New Zealand Film Awards, but had lacklustre commercial performance which limited its international distribution.