Story: Feature film

Topless women talk about their lives, 1997

This unique comedy was partly improvised by director Stephen Sinclair from his friends' circumstances. When his female lead, Danielle Cormack, announced she was pregnant, that became a central theme, and an opportunity to go to Niue provided a stunning new location. And the title is practically irrelevant to the story – it is the name of a film that features in the movie. Topless women began life as a television series with very short episodes (only three to four minutes long), made on a tiny budget by a group of friends having a great time, and it was then turned into one of the best New Zealand films of the 1990s. Watch the trailer.

Using this item

NZ On Screen
Reference: Topless women talk about their lives. Producer, Fiona Copland; producer and director, Harry Sinclair. John Swimmer Productions, 1997.

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How to cite this page:

Helen Martin, 'Feature film - The 1990s: deregulation, accolades and a maturing industry', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/42485/topless-women-talk-about-their-lives-1997 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Helen Martin, published 22 Oct 2014