Arrow Video, with
domestic sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group,
looks to Apr. 17 for a newly-prepared Blu-ray edition of director Roger
Donaldson’s 1977 (released theatrically in the domestic market in 1982) film
adapation of C.K. Stead's novel, “Smith’s Dreams,” which was re-titled for the
screen as Sleeping Dogs.
Parallels in Hitler’s
rise to power in Germany are used by Donaldson (No Way Out, White Sands, Dante’s
Peak, Thirteen Days, etc.) to create a frightening narrative about martial
law being declared in New Zealand … with the United States unwittingly coming
to the aid of the newly formed totalitarian government to help “put down” the
rebels.
This was Sam Neill’s first starring performance (My Brilliant Career was to follow two years later) and he plays a father in the middle of a custody battle who is innocent of any involvement with “the rebels,” but nevertheless become a man on the run and eventually comes around to joining those in opposition to the government.
Bonus features included
with this Blu-ray release from Arrow Video include commentary by writer-director
Roger Donaldson, who is joined by Sam Neill and actor-writer Ian Mune and
documentary filmmaker John Reid’s 2004 feature-length film titled The
Making of 'Sleeping Dogs.
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