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The surprising story of the underestimated
trolley dolly A DOCUMENTARY BY BRITA McVEIGH (Documentary
- New Zealand)
A Gaylene Preston Prods. (Auckland) production.
Produced
by Gaylene Preston, Brita McVeigh.
Directed, written
by Brita McVeigh
Cleverly mounted Coffee, Tea or Me? documents changing
role of female flight attendants. Forty-year-saga
sticks to particulars of a half-dozen New Zealand air
hostesses, whose well-lensed recollections mingle with
priceless period footage, but whole package applies
to experiences throughout the industry. Its smile-inducing
qualities, both campy and sociopolitical, could give
it theatrical life, especially if transferred to film.
Pic is guaranteed long service in both commercial and
pubcasting tube flights.
Helmer Brita McVeighÕs
effective strategy is to interview key vets of the
Kiwi air biz, including its longest-serving attendant,
Shirley Neale, a plucky Maori woman flying since 1964.
Subjects were involved not only with the old days, in
which young hostesses were viewed as go-go-dancing geishas,
but with the early-'70s movement to be treated more professionally.
Back
then, married or pregnant stewardesses were routinely
dropped by Air New Zealand and other carriers, and gals
were paid much less than male counterparts. Bringing
suit before the country's Human Rights Commission, they
received little support and loads of hostility from the
backwater machos in their union, although the women finally
prevailed.
Camera (color-BetaSP), Cameron McLean;
editor, Tim Woodhouse; music, Paul Casserly.
Reviewed
at Vancouver Film Festival, Oct. 5, 2002. Running time:
70 MINS.
©
2002 Reed Business InformationÊ © 2002 Variety,
Inc.
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