By Dave Goosselink
The red carpet has been rolled out in Invercargill for the city's first big movie premiere in seven years.
Kiwi comedy Two Little Boys reunites director Robert Sarkies with his younger brother, and writer, Duncan.
The film, set in 1990s Southland, sees Bret McKenzie and Hamish Blake channelling their inner bogans.
“It was great getting to rock a mullet for a couple of months, and also to drive that Mazda quite dangerously... they taught me how to do handbrake turns,” says McKenzie.
After the character Nige accidentally kills a backpacker and the two best mates botch the disposal of the body, they head off on a road trip to the Catlins, with plans to also get rid of suspicious flatmate Gav – played by Kakka Pohatu.
Although the weather caused a few headaches during shooting, director Robert Sarkies says the south offered a great community sprit.
“You know, you make a film in Auckland or even Wellington, it's almost a bit of an annoyance, ‘Oh damn the road's closed, it's another film crew.’ You come down here and they closed State Highway 1 for three nights and stopped the clock,” says Sarkies.
They even had some help from Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, who features in the film.
“Now I know that there's a vicious rumour circulating that it's illegal to make a movie in Invercargill unless I'm in it,” says Mr Shadbolt.
“That's not true, but if I'm not in it you do seem to have a few problems closing roads and parks.”
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