Joy, Full & Fearless: Film
Tuesday 4 August, 6:30 - 7:30pm
Lido Cinema, Centre Place,
500 Victoria St
$25 plus refreshments, book at The Lido
Author
We are thrilled to host the Hamilton premiere screening of Joy, Full & Fearless, a documentary on the internationally renowned author Dame Joy Cowley.
It follows her recollections of trauma and triumph from an astonishing life as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most prolific, widely published and much-celebrated authors of fiction for adults and children.
Executive producer Pietra Brett describes it as “a documentary that holds immense importance in capturing the extraordinary life of Joy Cowley and providing audiences with a deeply resonant cinematic experience.”
“This documentary is a testament to the power of storytelling, the human spirit, and the enduring impact of one individual's journey.”
This event is supported by Lido Cinema and Krafty Productions in association with RNZ and NZ on Air.
Joy Cowley is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most prolific, widely published and much-celebrated authors of fiction for adults and children.
Joy had a difficult relationship with her mother, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. As a young girl, Joy would tell bedtime stories to her sisters about girls who had fantastical adventures and never got hurt. Her journey into children’s literature began by writing stories for her son. Her approach was to centre children in the narratives and make them the heroes.
Joy’s love of stories continued to flourish during “three wonderful years at Palmerston North Girls High School” where she pursued her passion for literature and became the editor for the children’s section of the Manawatu Daily Times. Upon graduating, Joy was offered a job there, however, her parents decided to apprentice her to a pharmacy so she could bring money home for the family.
Years later, Joy finally returned to writing, and after many rejections, her stories began to get noticed. But Joy's early writing successes, including her first novel Nest in a Falling Tree (1967), were tempered with hardship such as the end of her first marriage.
Despite starting her career as a novelist, Joy was drawn to writing for children which led to the publication of thousands of early learning books. The collaboration with publisher Wendy Pye launched her career overseas, creating a lasting impact for her children's books.
Joy's friendship with the renowned author Roald Dahl, who purchased the rights to one of her books allowed her to buy a property in the Marlborough Sounds. Joy’s inherent generous nature led her to build a retreat, Arohanui, for stressed and troubled people there.
Joy’s adventurous and tenacious spirit has taken her across Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world, leading writing and spiritual workshops. She has been mother to four children and grandmother to many, an enthusiast of motorbikes and Tiger Moth planes, an avid fisher, arts and craft maker and wood turner.
A resilient and imaginative writer, Joy drew upon her own life experiences to create enchanting stories for young readers around the world.
