When washed-up American illusionist Strawn Wise (Wood) and his long-estranged precocious daughter Mildred (Fisher), who in the midst of a family crisis, venture into the New Zealand wilderness in search of a mythical black panther.

Cult New Zealand filmmaker Ant Timpson is back behind the camera for his latest project, Bookworm. It’s a fun and zany adventure comedy that follows a mismatched father and daughter as they search for proof of the legendary Canterbury Panther in the great outdoors. Drawing on his own experiences as a father, Timpson brings to life the story of two quirky characters who find themselves in trouble in the Kiwi bush and who must rely on their unique quirks to overcome the challenges they face. Bookworm offers an equal mix of comedy and drama with a distinctive Kiwi voice. It’s a delightful journey as Strawn and Mildred reconnect and conquer the elements.

Elijah Wood is a performer who can’t fit into any kind of box, and again, he pulls another 180 with a very different performance as B-grade illusionist and absentee father, Strawn Wise. After a tragic accident sees Strawn return to New Zealand and thrown into caring for a daughter he hasn’t seen in over a decade, Strawn decides to support Mildred in her dream of capturing proof of the Canterbury Panther, and in so doing this, he’s forced into his journey to grow up. Wood crafts a performance of a man who’s still contending with his past failures and suddenly finds himself facing ‘real’ responsibility, and he showcases a very wide change in character with Strawn throughout the picture. It’s again a not-so-typical portrayal for Wood, but his performance will win over audiences, and it’s a testament to his considerable ability to perform.

Paired with Wood is rising Kiwi talent Nell Fisher, and she utterly steals every scene in Bookworm as this quirky, brainy and totally unique character. As the inquisitive and bright Mildred, Fisher is your not-so-typical tween, and when she enlists her absentee father, who she has the utmost contempt for, in her mission to find proof of the Canterbury Panther, the audience is in for a treat. Fisher’s talent is apparent, and she brings out a fully rounded performance as Mildred, who first comes off as an over-the-top know-it-all but who is actually hiding a real sense of abandonment, and her journey through this film is one of acceptance and trying to learn to love her father once more. Fisher shares a great bond with Wood on screen, and they truly go from A to Z in Bookworm, and it’s that much more of a special treat because of it.

Bookworm has all the callings of a classic Kiwi adventure film, and a whole heap of emotions is packed into this fun, clever and surprising watch. This film is for audiences seeking something different and altogether distinctive, and it’s a real winning watch.

Image: Rialto Distribution

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Watch the brand-new trailer for Bookworm here:

Here’s the official synopsis:

When washed-up American illusionist Strawn Wise (Wood) and his long-estranged precocious daughter Mildred (Fisher), who in the midst of a family crisis, venture into the New Zealand wilderness in search of a mythical black panther.

Bookworm is directed by Ant Timpson (Come to Daddy), and co-written by Timpson and Toby Harvard. The pair wrote the film with Elijah Wood in mind, who jumped at the chance to shoot a film in New Zealand and to reunite with the creative team behind Come to Daddy.

“There was a joy in shooting a film almost entirely on location in the Canterbury region too – a unique experience in itself. Bookworm’s story is hilarious, heartwarming and touching – I hope audiences love it,” commented Elijah Wood.

Director Ant Timpson said: “This fun adventure about two endearing oddballs bonding in the great New Zealand outdoors offers the perfect escapism on the big screen. We had a blast making it with our super talented cast and crew, and now it’s time to release Bookworm into the wild for everyone to check out.”

Production searched far and wide when casting Mildred’s character, auditioning more than 300 children, but when Timpson saw Nell Fisher, he said it was a no-brainer: “She’s just phenomenal. Nell has that rare quality that comes alive on screen, inhabiting a character from top to toe. She’s going to be a major talent. Watch this space.”

Fisher said returning to New Zealand to shoot Bookworm was a special experience: “It was my first time in Canterbury and it was absolutely breathtaking. Working with Elijah Wood was such a privilege. He’s such a funny guy and an amazing actor – I learnt a lot from him. Bookworm is a lovely, fun story – I hope audiences enjoy the journey watching it. We certainly had fun making it.”

 

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With its quirky narrative, off-beat comedy, and charming sentimentality, Bookworm is a guaranteed classic in the making. Audiences will fall in love with this fabulous little story when it arrives in cinemas on August 8.

Image: Rialto Distribution

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