"Maleness, mateship and the rural experience are all on raw display in The Ground We Won, a portrait of a small Kiwi town's rugby team and their attempts to claw back a win amidst the quotidian grind of farming and family life. Stunning landscapes that are cinematically presented in black and white and the lyrical, evocative score both serve to enrich the portrayal of an eclectic group of men who are closely bonded. The incredible access granted to the men's sacred spaces and rituals offers unprecedented insight into male sporting culture and the hierarchies, humour and debauchery that abounds. This visually arresting and surprising film is about passions, obligations and belonging, both on the pitch and off."
JSS - Antenna Documentary Film Festival.
Employing an immersive, observational filmmaking approach, husband and wife filmmakers Miriam Smith & Chris Pryor lived in Reporoa for a year to shoot The Ground We Won. Throughout the lengthy filming process, nothing was ever scripted or constructed - ensuring that every moment captured in the film is breathtakingly authentic, real-life gold.
The team also created the award-winning New Zealand documentary How Far is Heaven.
For more info visit www.deerheart.co.nz