To celebrate the opening of Rubbings from a Live Man's theatrical season, Warwick Broadhead will give a live performance at Rialto cinema Auckland on Thursday November 6 after the screening.

The film's director Florian Habicht will also introduce the film. Rubbings from a Live Man is a documentary performed by the fantastically flamboyant Warwick Broadhead who has never, until now, allowed his performances and far from ordinary life to be recorded.The strictly limited season begins on Thursday in Auckland at the Rialto and in Wellington at the Paramount.

Broadhead's career as a performing artist and director has spanned four decades - from Full Moon Follies in 1972 through to 1999's A Delicate Quest and on to The Resting Show; a grand community project planned for 2009.

Habicht takes a unique approach to documentary filmmaking as Broadhead re-enacts the highest and lowest points of his life through various alter-egos and vignettes that lavish his story upon the screen. Together filmmaker and subject revisit Broadhead's childhood in 50's Kiwi suburbia, his wild ecstatic 60's in San Francisco and a heap of trauma, exaltation and grief ever since.

Habicht's distinctive and original films have a strong following in New Zealand and have also placed his feet firmly on the global scene - both Woodenhead and Kaikohe Demolition were picked up by film festivals across the world. He heads to New York in 2009 for his latest project, described as his "own version of Sex In The City." Earlier this year he was offered an $80,000 New York Harriet Friedlander Residency, with support from the Arts Foundation of New Zealand.

Joining this dynamic creative partnership is producer Philippa Campbell, whose second feature, Christine Jeff's internationally acclaimed Rain, Habicht particularly admires. Philippa has gone on to produce Toa Fraser's Sundance award winner No. 2, and more recently Jonathan King's Black Sheep.

"It's rare to see such a creative and singular spirit captured so completely on film, and this makes for compelling viewing. Moving and fascinating!" - Michael Hurst "Have seen [this] wonderful witness to human suffering and joy. Was very moved." - Gaylene Preston

A unique collaboration between two of New Zealand's most original artists, Rubbings from a Live Man is a testament to one man's ability to stare his life in the face, by performing it anew.

More information Auckland Rialto Thursday 6 Nov 8.20 pm with Live Performance! Friday (7 Nov) & Saturday & Sunday 1.10 pm & 7.24 PM Wellington at Paramount. Thursday 6 Nov, Friday and Saturday daily at 2.00pm, 7.15pm Christchurch & Dunedin November 13 Rubbings From a Live Man is distributed by Arkles Entertainment (NZ, 75 minutes, R13: Contains Adult Themes)  

Related stories NZ Film Fest: Rubbings From a Live Man Filmmaker Florian Habicht given New York residency 06/11/08

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