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Set in the 1950’s in New Zealand, this film is based on a true story that shocked the nation at the time. New arrival Juliet Hulme (Kate Winslet) quickly befriends the quiet Pauline Parker (Melanie Lynskey) at their conservative school in Christchurch. Although their backgrounds are very different, the two girls are both creative and intelligent writers, and form a close friendship which gradually becomes more and more obsessive. Together, they create a fantasy world peopled by characters who become very real for both of them. Their parents are increasingly disturbed by the obsessive nature of their relationship, and take steps to separate them. This leads to the girls plotting a horrendous crime to ensure they remain together.
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How to watch
Stream, rent or buy via
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
312922
Language
English
Audience classification
MA
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Biographical films
Courtroom, Crime, Espionage & Thrillers
Courtroom, Crime, Espionage & Thrillers → Thrillers
Crime, Espionage, Justice, Police & Prisons → Murder
Crime, Espionage, Justice, Police & Prisons → Women murderers
Education, Instruction, Teaching & Schools → Imagination
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Gay and lesbian studies
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Mothers and daughters
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Teenage girls
Fantasy & Science Fiction → Fantasy
Feature films → Feature films - New Zealand
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Obsessive-compulsive neurosis
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Teenage girls
Magic, Occult & Supernatural → Fantasy
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)