A romantic comedy starring Rhys Darby has began production in Auckland.
The film is entitled Love Birds and stars Golden Globe winning British actress Sally Hawkins (Happy Go Lucky) alongside Flight of the Conchords star Darby.
Love Birds is described as is a charming, bitter-sweet rom com about what it is to have friends and find true love.
It follows Doug (Darby), a man whose life has fallen apart after his long-term girlfriend leaves him, and Holly (Hawkins), a sassy animal specialist.
Pierre, an injured “shelduck’ (native to New Zealand), literally crash-lands into Doug’s life. Through him, Doug discovers his own true place in the world and the belief in himself that will allow true love to blossom with Holly.
Love Birds is being made by director Paul Murphy and original screenwriter Nick Ward, following their first collaboration Second Hand Wedding, which is New Zealand’s seventh highest grossing film.
The film also stars Bryan Brown (Dean Spanley), Emily Barclay (In My Father's Den), Craig Hall (World's Fastest Indian) and Dave Fane (Sione's Wedding).
Love Birds will be released in 2011 by Icon Film Distribution in the UK and Icon Film Distribution Pty Ltd in Australia & New Zealand.
It is filming on several locations around Auckland. Production will conclude in mid May 2010.
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