The value of Alister Barry’s painstaking catalouging of our recent political history was never more evident than at the world premiere of The Hollow Men in front of a full house at the Paramount Theatre in Wellington yesterday. 

Barry’s previous efforts have focused on the new-right revolution of the 80s and 90s, and what he has succeded in doing with this version of Nicky Hager’s book is set the Don Brash (and in turn John Key) leadership of the National Party in that context.   The Hollow Men the movie is very much the next chapter in that story.

Having now read the book, seen the play and now the movie, Barry’s effort does nicely round out the picture.  In his introductory comments Barry noted his gratitude to the TVNZ Archive, and his worry about what might happen to it under a possible National Party privatisation of our public broadcaster.  You can see why, the footage, particularly the unused ‘wallpaper’ gives a very real feel to the emails that largely write the script itself.

In Seeds of Distrust I feel that Nicky Hager mostly put two and two together and made five.  In reading The Hollow Men there was perhaps the odd moment of this, but overall it is hard to dismiss the deception of the New Zealand public that lies at its heart. The emails reveal a systematic attempt to mislead.  Hager and Barry were at pains after the screening to say that the movie is really about the political process in general.  I can only accept that to a limited degree.  My own involvement tells me that what is revealed in the Hollow Men was on a scale and to an extent that goes well beyond anything that might happen in other parties.

Seeing the images of the last election again does highlight the tragi-comic feel of Brash’s campaign.  He did not play the politician’s role very well- and the scene of him getting into the midget car is still one of the funniest political images I have ever seen.  It also reminds us that in an election campaign we need an interviewer of Kim Hill’s skill and passion to test our leaders.

There was not a lot that was new in the film.  As foreshadowed in the Sunday Star Times, they do reveal that John Key sought out Crosby Textor immediately after his election as Leader, and thus the deception continues.  Two interesting things struck me that I had not focused on previously. In the TVNZ footage of Brash and Key meeting the Brethren both times the Brethren reps say ” good to see you again”.  This runs counter to the denials about how often they met. 

Secondly the explicit reference to Key going to visit Bill English the night before the leadership vote between English and Brash.  According to the film Key promised his vote to English, but by the next day had changed his vote.  Ever the trader, looking for the deal.  Its not likely that is something English will ever forget.

The only bum note in the documentary for me was the use of what appeared to be covert filming of Brash’s speech writer Peter Keenan.  Shots of him opening his curtains in the morning, and reading the paper just felt a bit creepy to me.

Overall this is a very timely reminder about what has driven the agenda of the National Party, and how that continues under John Key.  What with the poll bounce, it made for a very motivating weekend!