Culture

Directed Robert Sarkies
(4/5)

 
 
 
Scarfies takes us back in time to the Dunedin of our slightly older siblings or cousins, one decade in the past. How much does Sarkies' stoner-comedy interpretation of the Dunedin uni-culture ring true for today's audiences? 
This classic tale begins with Emma, a wide-eyed young Scarfie, deciding to live in an abandoned clunker of a house , free of charge and with free electricity (only in Dunedin!). Her flatmates are a fun bunch, a group of freeloading party people that includes Alex, a memorable performance by Taika Waititi of Eagle Vs Shark and Boy fame. The crew hits the jackpot when Scott and Alex break down a door in the basement and find a functional marijuana grow room with thousands of dollars worth of crop ready for the harvest. After helping themselves to a toke, the sScarfies venture into the criminal world. They sell off the harvest to some dodgy blokes while the cops are watching the rugby at Carisbrook. But the fun comes to an end when the man who has been paying the bills comes to collect his weed.
The comedy is a bit dated, but the nostalgia runs strong. There is something very pleasant about seeing your city immortalised in New Zealand film history. If you're a Dunedin Scarfie who hasn't seen Scarfies, do yourself a solid and book a library viewing room tonight to watch this delightful homage to our hometown and your way of life. And think what of what you'll do when you find a suspicious locked door in your basement.