HEAVENLY CREATURES

Year: 1994

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Cast: Kate Winslet, Melanie Lynskey

Award and nominations:

1994: Venice Film Festival: Silver Lion

1994: Oscar Nomination: Best Original Screenplay

1994: Toronto Film Festival: Best Director (Peter Jackson)

1995: New Zealand Film Academy: 10 awards

CELESTIAL CREATURES (1994) marks a turning point in the career of its director and screenwriter, Peter Jackson. Known to audiences in his native New Zealand for his work in gore films, the theme of melodrama based on true stories didn't seem to be on his agenda. However, a particular sensitivity to understanding local culture led him to write a screenplay inspired by a famous crime that occurred in the 1950s and remained indelibly etched in the memory of his compatriots.

The artist's mastery of the fantastic seemed at risk of being diluted by the challenge of bringing historical events to the screen. But a true genius retains the same essence until death… such is the case with Jackson. In the film, the director contrasts the closed-minded society of the 1950s, reluctant to allow a same-sex relationship between two teenagers, with the intimate world of imagination. To achieve this, he draws on his refined qualities as a filmmaker, honed through the raw production and direction of his earlier, bloody films, such as BAD TASTE (1987) and FEEBLES (1990).

The quality of the director, who also works as a screenwriter, is evident from the beginning, when he links the beginning with the end of the 

The story, thanks to a sequence in which the audio and music link the shots in a fluid and dramatic way, combined with the editing and the moving camera that captures the viewer's gaze.

Years later, Peter Jackson would go down in history as the one who was able to bring the The three books of THE LORD OF THE RINGS (2001, 2002, 2003) were screened. Although the saga moves in different territory than that of CELESTIAL CREATURES, both examples feature same-sex couples. This is not unique to this director; one only needs to recall two New Zealand series that were world-famous among young people in the 90s: HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS (1995-1999) and XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (1995-2001). Perhaps this is an evolution of what is known as "Body movies," a formula frequently used by 

Action comedies that glorify the values of hormonally charged men. What's interesting about HEAVENLY CREATURES is that the narrative tool is at the service of a female melodrama, based on a true story.

Fun fact: Although Kate Winslet is world-renowned and Heavenly Creatures helped open doors to more high-profile roles, her co-star's fame is somewhat less well-known. Those with a keen eye will be interested to know that Melanie Lynskey is the actress who plays the persistent Rose, in love with the elusive Charlie Harper, played by Charlie Sheen.