A Kafkaesque docudrama of an actual case involving a Christchurch small businessman and the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department. Most people can relate to running up against a bureaucrat (especially the tax man), who knows he can cause you trouble if you say something he doesn't like and then proceeds to use his power to hurt you. In this case, the businessman, Dave Henderson refuses to give in and, for the most part, kept his sense of humour.
Acting
Erik Thomson's unshakeable everyman charm anchors the chaos.
Direction
Cullinane turns dry bureaucracy into genuinely tense cinema.
Director
Jonothan Cullinane
Erik Thomson
Dave Henderson
Miriama Smith
Kath Harper
Will Wallace
Phil McRae
Michael Hurst
Rodney Hide
Jason Hoyte
Steve Arnett
John Leigh
Lesley Costello
Stephen Papps
Douglas Johnson
Geoff Clendon
Brian Palliser
Peter Elliott
Bill Birch
Greg Johnson
Max Cathie
Sarah McLeod
Liz Greville
Maisy McLeod-Riera
Maisy Greville
Antony Martin
Bank Manager
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This is based on the actual 'Henderson Case' that helped spark NZ tax reform debates in the early 2000s.
The real Dave Henderson later became a Christchurch city councillor, proving you can fight city hall and then become it.
NZ
US
