Heavenly Creatures
Heavenly Creatures is a 1994 New Zealand film directed by Peter Jackson, from a screenplay he co-wrote with his partner, Fran Walsh, and starring Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey in their feature film debuts, with supporting roles by Sarah Peirse, Diana Kent, Clive Merrison, and Simon O'Connor. The movie blends elements of movie genres like biography, period, thriller, crime, horror, romance, psychological drama, fantasy and dark comedy.
| Heavenly Creatures | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Peter Jackson |
| Written by | Fran Walsh Peter Jackson |
| Produced by | Jim Booth Peter Jackson |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Alun Bollinger |
| Edited by | Jamie Selkirk |
| Music by | Peter Dasent |
Production companies | WingNut Films Fontana Productions New Zealand Film Commission |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 99 minutes 109 minutes (Director's cut) |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $5 million |
| Box office | $5.4 million |
Based on the notorious 1954 Parker–Hulme murder case in Christchurch, the film focuses on the relationship between two teenage girls—Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme—which culminates in the murder of Parker's mother. The events of the film span the period from their meeting in 1952 to the murder in 1954.
The film opened in 1994 at the 51st Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Lion and went on to receive widespread critical acclaim, becoming one of the best-received movies of that year. Reviewers praised most aspects of the production, with particular attention given to the performances by the previously unknown Winslet and Lynskey, as well as for Jackson's directing. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.