Helen passed away in March 2013. The film was screened in March 2016 at a fund-raising premiere for Te Omanga Hospice, and previewed at the 2016 Hospice NZ Palliative Care Conference in Auckland.
‘Helen’s story’ screened as part of the Maori Television Matariki Documentary Series on 24 July 2017.
Directed by Paul Davidson & Barbara Gibb
Produced by Paul Davidson
High De nition PAL 16:9 widescreen DOLBY
Film Running Time: 72 mins
HELEN’S STORY – cancer courage family whanau 2012-16
It’s her mid-thirties, life is good for Helen Ngahuia Thomas. She marries her childhood sweetheart Quentin, before long – new baby Potiki arrives. Then Helen finds she has cancer – of a very bad kind.
Directed by Paul Davidson & Barbara Gibb
Produced by Paul Davidson
To contact us, email: helenstory@bytesize.co.nz
We support Te Omanga Hospice, Lower Hutt with the sale of DVDs.
Produced by Paul Davidson & Barbara Gibb for Helen’s whanau.
Veteran filmmaker Paul Davidson says “I was humbled that Helen and her family trusted us with their very personal stories of courage and compassion.”
Ten years earlier Paul made “Giving It All Away”, the story of philanthropist Sir Roy McKenzie, who inspired and funded the hospice movement in New Zealand. Now he and co-director Barbara Gibb www-ne94d.hosts.cx were on a much more personal mission, because Paul is Helen’s uncle and godfather. “It is challenging working with people so close to you”, Paul says, “but this special relationship between subject and filmmaker has brought a level of intimacy and honesty to our film.”
“The movie was beautiful – very intense and personal. It gives a fantastic insight into the lived experience of a patient and her family, and the complexities of families.” Jo Hendrickson Clinical Nurse Specialist (Palliative Care) Marlborough
‘Helen’s Story available on DVD $30 + $5 P&P *$5 from each sale donated to Te Omanga Hospice, Lower Hutt.
http://www.bytesize.co.nz/store/
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