by FilmInk Staff
A post-punk coming-of-age set in 1979 starring Australian actor Ed Oxenbould and singer/songwriter Benee (Stella Bennett)
“More than ever American has colonised our imaginations – I’m calling for a coup d’etat!
It is the time to support and take pride in screen stories from our side of the world.
To paraphrase the song, Panic by The Smiths, ‘Burn down the multiplexes, hang the blessed studio product. Because the films they constantly play, say nothing to me about my life’.”
-Jonathan Ogilvie
Sydney Film Festival 2024
Written & directed by Jonathan Ogilvie, HEAD SOUTH stars:
Ed Oxenbould (Paper Planes, The Visit, Wildlife)
Márton Csókás (Lord of the Rings, Bourne Identity, The Equaliser)
Roxie Mohebbi (Kid Sister, Give Me Babies, Critical Incident)
& singer/songwriter Benee (Stella Bennett) in her debut film role.
Critically acclaimed and audience favourite HEAD SOUTH will not screen in Australian multiplexes.
It will screen in independent cinemas around Australia – those that share Head South’s celebration of the creative spirit, the power of community, and a commitment to independent enterprise.
Following sell-out international festival screenings, Head South will open in Australia on Thursday 3 April 2025. Special Q&A events are programmed for Sydney and Melbourne.
Head South stars popular Australian actor Ed Oxenbould who first shot to fame in Hollywood as a child actor in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and The Visit. Head South is Oxenbould’s first starring role as an adult actor. “He got the Kiwi accent perfectly,” says Head South’s writer director Jonathan Ogilvie. Originally from New Zealand, Ogilvie moved to Sydney in the 1980s. The AACTA and AWGIE-nominated director has made three critically-acclaimed Australian feature films, starring Rose Byrne, Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Hugo Weaving.
HEAD SOUTH is a touching, bittersweet coming-of-age comedy set in New Zealand in 1979, about a naive teenager who, without any musical experience, plans a gig for his (not yet existing) post-punk band at the local rock music venue. Alone for a fortnight with his world-weary father who is going through his own crisis of identity, Angus navigates self-doubt, derision, harmful behaviour and a family tragedy to take the stage for the first time.
“HEAD SOUTH is an almost-true story,” says Jonathan Ogilvie. “Everything in it happened, and mainly to me.”
“A time capsule, wrapped in the glorious, sweaty textures of punk rock and post-punk tunes.” Lars Brandle, Rolling Stone
Head South is an authentic account of the post-punk music scene in Christchurch New Zealand, 1979, told from the point of view of a teenager who was there.
“I love this film and can’t wait for everybody to see it!” – Ed Oxenbould.
The British Film Institute listed Head South as one of the great New Zealand films.
HEAD SOUTH stars Ed Oxenbould (Paper Planes, The Visit, Wildlife), Márton Csókás (Lord of the Rings, Bourne Identity, The Equaliser), Roxie Mohebbi (Kid Sister, Give Me Babies, Critical Incident) and singer/songwriter Stella Bennett (Benee) in her debut film role. It is written and directed by Jonathan Ogilvie (Lone Wolf, The Tender Hook).
The original HEAD SOUTH soundtrack by Shayne Carter (Straitjacket Fits, Dimmer) and featuring Benee (Stella Bennett), with more than 4 billion streams to her name, is available on Leatherjacket Records through Flying Nun.
“Head South is pure coming-of-age gold.”
Erin Free, Film Ink
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