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An Olympic Alternative

Tuesday, 12 August 2008

Had enough of the Olympics on telly? Feel like some light relief?

This Wednesday 13 August at 7pm, we screen Via Satellite Anthony McCarten's hilarious comedy of Olympic proportions.

Twenty-year old Carol Dunn seems all set to win a surprise medal for New Zealand in the Olympic Pool. Back home, along with the rest of the nation, her family is caught up in the euphoria and nervously awaits the arrival of television director Brian Stanning. No one is prepared for the riot of recrimination and revelation that erupts during the build up to the fateful broadcast. Finally the television pictures that emerge from the Dunn household moments after Carol's amazing feat, are, in spite of everything, glorious. Together, with Carol, beamed into their lives via satellite, the Dunn's celebrate the awful, awesome triumph that is family life.

"...Via Satellite is an effervescent, deftly paced and hilarious gem which will, if there is any justice, take its place alongside Geoff Murphy's marvellous road riot, Goodbye Pork Pie, among our best indigenous comedies ... McCarten, an unobtrusive and unpossessive director, has the benefit of a uniformly wonderful cast." - Peter Calder, 'A Star is born', Weekend Herald, 10/10/1998

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