Heavenly Creatures

Heavenly Creatures (1994) is a film directed by Peter Jackson, based on the true story of the Parker-Hulme murder in Christchurch, New Zealand. The film was a critical success and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. It also featured the first film appearance of actress Kate Winslet.

Much of the film was shot at the original locations, e.g., Christchurch Girls' High School and the official residence of the Rector of Canterbury University (Juliet Hulme's father).

Tagline: The true story of a crime that shocked a nation. Not all angels are innocent.

Plot summary

Two young girls, 14-year-old Pauline Parker and 13-year-old Juliette Hulme, in 1950s New Zealand, become close friends and become increasingly involved in a world of fantasy after they meet at their high school over a period of two years. The girls continue seeing each other after their families forbid it and step in to separate them geographically. They eventually plot the murder of one the girl's mother in order to be together. After the film was released, it came to light that historical mystery writer Anne Perry was Juliet Hulme, one of the killers.

Acclaim

Unlike Jackson's later films, Heavenly Creatures was not a huge box office success. However, the film was an independently produced film, and was given a limited release in the United States. At the final takings tally of $3 million, it is still one of the more successful limited-release films. This is especially impressive considering its low budget, the fact that it featured unknown (at the time) 'foreign' actors and was directed by a (then) largely-unknown New Zealand filmmaker it was highly critically and relatively commercially successful in the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia. Despite being considered unsuccessful in terms of box office, "Heavenly Creatures" has garnered critical praise, with very favourable reviews worldwide. It currently has a rating of 93% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/heavenly_creatures/

Trivia

Almost all locations used for filming were the genuine locations where the events occurred. The tea shop where Honora Parker ate her last meal was knocked down a few days after the shoot ended. According to director Peter Jackson, when they got to the location of the murder on the dirt path, it was eerily quiet; the birds stopped singing, and it didn't seem right. So they moved along a couple of hundred yards.
Kate Winslet was one of 175 girls who auditioned for the role of Juliet Hulme.
All of the journal voice-overs are direct from real diary entries made by Pauline Parker. The characters in the stories (if not the stories themselves) and make-believe world are also authentic.

Goofs

Pauline's diary shows January 1st, 1954 as a Thursday, when it was really a Friday.
The people walking behind/around Pauline and Juliet, after they exit the screening of "The Third Man" change between shots.
During the Donkey Serenade montage, Pauline is shown pulling off her vest which is still there for the remainder of the scene.

Main cast

Melanie Lynskey—Pauline Yvonne (Parker) Rieper
Kate Winslet—Juliet Hulme
Sarah Peirse—Honorah Parker Rieper
Diana Kent—Hilda Hulme
Clive Merrison—Dr. Henry Hulme
Simon O'Connor—Herbert Rieper
Jed Brophy—John ("Nicholas")

External links