THE CHILLS: THE TRIUMPH & TRAGEDY OF MARTIN PHILLIPPS

By Julia PARNELL, Rob CURRY

NZ FILM - NEW ZEALAND FILM COMMISSION - as FIN

Documentary - Completed 2019

The story of lyrical genius, Martin Phillipps and his band, The Chills, is a cautionary tale, a triumph over tragedy, and a statement about the meaning of music in our lives.

Festivals
& Awards

SXSW Film Festival 2019
    • Year of production
    • 2019
    • Genres
    • Documentary
    • Countries
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • Languages
    • ENGLISH
    • Duration
    • 92 mn
    • Director(s)
    • Julia PARNELL, Rob CURRY
    • Producer(s)
    • Nicola PEEPERKOORN (Notable Pictures), Julia PARNELL (Notable Pictures), Tim RILEY (Notable Pictures)
    • Synopsis
    • Martin Phillipps came tantalizingly close to conquering the international musical world with his band The Chills, but instead fell into decades of debt and addiction in his hometown of Dunedin, New Zealand. At 54, he’s been given a dire medical prognosis, forcing him to face his demons and realise his musical ambitions before it’s too late.

      This intimate portrait follows the eccentric Martin as he reconciles a lifetime’s worth of curious collections, looks back on a catalogue of heavenly pop hits and relives his place in the iconic Flying Nun and Dunedin sound. With a startling sense of humour even in the blackest moments, we bear witness to one man’s universal battle with the fear of failure and the jarring reality of his own mortality.