kiwi christmas
Director: tony simpson (kiwi flyer)
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Starring: xavier horan, Sia Trokenheim, Kari Vaananen, and will hall
REVIEWER: lyall carter
★★★
Fed up with the materialism of Christmas, Santa runs away to New Zealand for a summer holiday. When two Kiwi kids figure out who he is, they have to find a way to get him back to the North Pole in time for Christmas.
We've had Kiwi dramas, fantasy, action, and comedy films but we've never had a Kiwi Christmas film - until now.
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Pete and Liz are having a trial separation with Pete determined to take their two children away to the beach for a classic Kiwi Christmas. On the other side of the world at the North Pole, Santa is fed up with how materialistic and commercial Christmas has become and decides to do a runner. When his sleigh is hit by a stray firework, he crash lands near where Pete and his family are camping for Christmas. Pete, Liz, and their kids must help get Santa back to present duties and save Christmas.
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There is something warm, fuzzy, and comforting about Kiwi Christmas. It wraps you up in a warm nostalgic embrace as you wistfully remember those sunlit Kiwi Christmas days.
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While some of the humour from the NZ Coastal Security Team can be a bit cringey at times, the story is warm hearted and fun with a little twinkle in its eye. The casting of Karl Vaananen is inspired as you begin to wonder: could he really the big man, Santa Claus himself?
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A nostalgic tribute to the classic Kiwi summer Christmas, Kiwi Christmas is a warm hearted and fun film for the whole family.
★★★
Kiwi Christmas is available on DVD and digital from all good disc and digital retailers.
