Ross and Beth

Director's Statement

The characters of Ross and Beth were inspired by my childhood neighbours in the small rural Northland community of Tauraroa. They’re in their 80’s now and still living on the same farm that they’ve had all their married lives. They’re great people – humble, funny, hard-working, gruff, stuck in their ways - fairly typical traits of many older rural couples. You don’t see many outward displays of affection or emotion, but this can’t be mistaken for not caring. It’s very much the opposite. The love, the loyalty, the reliance - it can all be found in the little moments, buried under the layers of cheeky banter and cow shit. You know these people are devoted to one another.   And you also know that if one of them weren’t there, the other would be completely lost. This film is an ode to these people and this way of life.