The New Zealand Film Archive

Reference Number
Film : F25013
DEAD CERTS

Year
1995

  Production Company
CINCO CINE Film Productions Ltd

  Country
new zealand

Duration
0:52:00

  Category
SHORT

   
Hare makes his way to the TAB, but just before placing his bet, he learns of a fund raising effort to assist a young lass. He hands over his last $5 for the good cause. His friend Martha joins him in his dingy dwelling for a meal of fish and chips. After a few drinks, she drops dead.
Martha's ghost follows Hare and encourages him to keep on betting. From a $5 first bet Hare wins $144,000 seven races later. He decides to go for 10 races all up since 'Lady Luck' was on his side. From the Otara TAB, Hare soon becomes a local celebrity on nation wide television. But, even though he wins each race his winnings quickly dwindle. Finally his last bet of $50,000 wins $5000. Realising he never bet for the money, he donates it all again to the young girl's cause and pays back the $5 he borrowed in the beginning.
Upon returning to his dwelling Hare finds it is about to be demolished. He quickly makes an excuse for the workmen to check out the building next door. Hare then enters it to retrieve the body of his friend Martha. Through a terrible mishap Hare meets an unfortunate death. Locals pitch in to give both Hare and his friend Martha a proper funeral. Both finally appear in their spiritual forms wondering what everyone was doing at their grave site and if a TAB awaits them in the next world.

Credits
Cast: RAWIRI PARATENE, GINETTE McDONALD, KEN BLACKBURN, MARK FERGUSON, VANESSA RARE

Director: IAN MUNE
Executive Producer: CATERINA DE NAVE
Director of Photography: WARRICK ATTEWELL
Screenplay by RAWIRI PARATENE & IAN MUNE
Designer: BRETT SCHWIETERS
Editor: PATRICK MONAGHAN
Music by STEPHEN McCURDY
Producer: MICOLE HOEY

In Association with: New Zealand On Air, New Zealand Film Commission & Te Mangai Paho



Site/Shelf Location
Film Archive, Wellington
1995.5021