Desperate Remedies

This stylishly high camp melodrama from directors Stewart Main and Peter Wells won acclaim, after debuting at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. In the imaginary 19th-century town of Hope, draper Dorothea Brooks (Jennifer Ward-Lealand) is desperate...

New Zealand Production

Feature 1993 Drama 92.00 minutes

Film Main Image 1050

Dorothea wants to save her sister Rose by marrying her to Lawrence. But Rose wants someone else. And Lawrence wants Dorothea. Set in a highly-stylised nineteeth century New Zealand, Desperate Remedies is a film about a woman in control of everything - except her own heart.

1994: New Zealand Film and Television Awards

Best Male Performance in a Supporting Role: Cliff Curtis

Cinematography: Leon Narbey

Design: Mike Kane

Contribution to Design - Film: Glenis Foster, for her costume design

Asia-Pacific Film Festival

Best Direction: Peter Wells

Best Art Direction: Mike Kane)

1994: Turin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

Audience Prize for Best Feature Film

1993: Cannes Film Festival - Official Selection

1994: Fantasporto

1993: Sitges Fantastic Film Festival

1993: Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya

1993: Montreal, Miami, London, Kiev, Stockholm

1994: Calcutta, Gerardmer Fantasy Film Festival , Flanders , Rotterdam , Singapore

2002: Summer School Film Festival

2003: New Delhi - NZ Retrospective

Directors

Peter Wells

Stewart Main

Producers

Sir James Wallace

Screenplay Writers

Peter Wells

Stewart Main

Cast

Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Dorothea

Kevin Smith
Lawrence Hayes

Lisa Chappell
Anne Cooper

Cliff Curtis
Fraser

Michael Hurst
William Poyser

Other featured productions

Discover the powerful stories and breathtaking visuals brought to life by our talented New Zealand and International filmmakers.

Full film library

Kōrero mai

Ready to connect and collaborate? Our team is ready to support your next steps.