Private Project

Sportsman of the Year

A working class mother bleakly watches her son pursue his passions while being haunted by the own missed opportunities to pursue her own.

The song was used with the permission and kindness of its original artist, Jan Hellriegel.

SONG CREDITS
Written and Performed by Jan Hellriegel
Published by Songbroker Music Publishing
Courtesy of Blind Dates Records

  • Faith Ward
    Director
  • Faith Ward
    Writer
  • Brian Gill
    Producer
    Solitaire (2023)
  • Trudie Smith
    Key Cast
  • Tony Bosch
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Music Video
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 39 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 10, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    0 NZD
  • Country of Origin:
    New Zealand
  • Country of Filming:
    New Zealand
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - South Seas Film & Television School
Director Biography - Faith Ward

Faith Ward is a 19 year-old writer, actor and director from Auckland, studying at South Seas Film School. Although her film hero is David Lynch, her works draw the most inspiration from classic British filmmakers such as Ken Russell and Tony Richardson.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This story came about because I wanted to pay homage to the kitchen sink realism (or “British New Wave”) movement, which told stories of working class people in the 1950s-1960s. Most of the stories from this movement focus on the archetypal “angry young man” protagonist. Inspired by the themes of the “Sportsman of the Year” song/album, I wanted the narrative to centre around his mother, who represents how ageing women are viewed by society. She is equally fed up with working class life, as she bleakly watches her son pursue his passions, while being haunted by her own missed opportunities to pursue hers. Subverting the “kitchen sink realism” archetypes (and giving it a bit of a suburban Kiwi twist!) makes this story what I’d consider… an “anti kitchen sink drama.”
- Faith Ward (director)

The song was used with the permission and kindness of its original artist, Jan Hellriegel.

SONG CREDITS
Written and Performed by Jan Hellriegel
Published by Songbroker Music Publishing
Courtesy of Blind Dates Records