Could debut director-writer Michelle Savill be the spiritual heir to Kiwi helmer Taika Waititi? Inspired by an excruciating event in her own life, the Gen Z dramedy Millie Lies Low looks at what happens when a Wellington architecture student due to fly to NYC for a prestigious internship suffers an anxiety attack and bolts from her flight.
Unable to book a new ticket because she’s broke, she’s too ashamed to face her problem head on and instead makes it worse by posting fake fun-in-New York photos to Instagram. Social media of all types serves as a co-star in this very relatable situation spun to absurdist and blackly comic extremes. As Millie uses her wits to stay one step ahead of the new problems created by her lies, she sees and hears things that she would be better off not knowing.
Director Biography
Michelle Savill grew up in the Philippines, the child of missionary parents, before settling in Aotearoa. She is the director of the short films “Betty Banned Sweets” (2008), “Elaine Rides Again” (2011), “Ellen Is Leaving” (2015), “Bats” (2018), and the documentary shorts “Fantasy Cave” (2015) and “The Dental Reunion” (2020).
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