Workmates is a delightful comedy romance as dictated by the rules of attraction. A loves B, who is already committed to C.
Director: Curtis Vowell
Screenplay and Lead Actor: Sophie Henderson
Lead Actor: Matt Whelan
New Zealand international Film Festival 2025, World Premiere
Co-managers Lucy (Henderson) and Tom (Whelan) are desperately trying to keep the struggling Crystal Ballroom Theatre on its feet. The actual main actor is the instantly recognisable Auckland’s Basement Theatre.
The back of the Town Hall and Q Theatre, and bordering an inhospitable parking area, it is the ugly duckling that threatens to metamorphosize into a swan.
Despite all the destruction and vandalism which has defined the CBD for most of this millennium. Will it turn into a swan at the end?
Lucy and Tom are there to keep the struggling, broke concern going. It is physically broken as the building is in breach of multiple health and safety requirements.
Lucy falls through a trapdoor in the opening sequence to warrant a visit from the Council.
The writing is the major triumph here, as Henderson quickly establishes the yearning from Lucy towards her co-manager Tom.
Tom has a partner Nina (Zoe Robins) who has just fallen pregnant (that phrase also makes it sound like a workplace accident).
The movie quickly establishes the dynamics of the relationship, once we learn that Tom wants to leave and find a proper job (Nina’s scathing epithet).
But it is a genuine co-dependency. Both have a yearning attraction, and that is what drives the dynamics of the whole tale. Which races along at smart pace by director Vowell.
The state of the Arts in New Zealand. There is a visit to the old St James Theatre. Lucy is the passionate anima spirit and breaks the padlocks and chains.
Inside it is in dilapidated ruins, enough to make you weep. I remember visiting there many times for movies and shows.
My brother and I as pre-teens watched Steven Spielberg’s early masterpiece Duel. Much later we caught Soul Brother Number One Mister Jaaaames Brown! Priceless.
Dark elements surface. Tom and Lucy are desperate for cash to keep the theatre open.
They pay a visit to the Philanthropist (Cameron Rhodes). Wealthy but with a reputation as a sex pest and a perv. He is ready with a generous amount of money, but he molests Lucy. A heartbreak moment as both negotiate around this.
Tom wants to protect Lucy. Lucy will do anything for Tom to stay. Will they consummate their relationship.
There is fumbling and awkwardness. There are only two tragedies in life. Not getting what you want, and the other. There are Wildean moments of humour in Workmates.
Henderson and Vowell have worked together in the same capacity for two previous movies, Fantail and Baby Done.
Rev. Orange Peel