From the Wachowskis (The Matrix) and Tom Tykwer (“Run Lola, Run”) comes the movie of David Mitchell's 2004 no­vel which was a little controversial here with the opening chapter in the book depicting Moriori enslaved and abused by Maori on the Chatham Islands (a factual part of our nineteenth-century history). The film retains the six interlocking stories set in different eras with some sci-fi elements, with the principal cast playing different characters in each story. Stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant etc. However, the major difference from the book is that the film removes all historical context – so the opening scenes are set nowhere in particular, not in NZ as in the book, and the “natives” are not Maori or Pacific Island but look African American. Any specific historical dates are removed too. I found the whole film an incoherent, self-indulgent mess. A shame, as it would have been one of the few American films (US directors, German financing) to have been (partly) set in NZ and touching on controversial aspects of our history. Read the book instead!

This is a very involved story and has some interesting moments. It has a great cast.

One of Tom Hanks' best movies ever. His characters (all seven of them) are wonderful through the generations. Some incredible stars including Halle Berry, Hugh Grant and Hugo Weaving.