Starring Oscar-nominee Tim Roth alongside emerging Aotearoa talent Jordan Oosterhof and Conan Hayes, PUNCH, the new Kiwi film from renowned writer/director Welby Ings, is a pure gay love story, set on our clean-green shores.
Rural life is not all ‘rainbow flags and Pride parades’ for young takatāpui, Whetu (Hayes), as he navigates racism and homophobia in his toxically-masculine town. His life is mirrored by Jim (Oosterhof), a promising young boxer, who is trying to find the path to a better life, while parenting his own alcoholic father (Roth).
Perhaps Whetu and Jim can find a way out together? PUNCH is out in cinemas nationwide now.
PUNCH star Conan Hayes (Sweet Tooth) talks to Oliver Hall about parallels to his character, Whetu, working with Welby Ings and being queer in modern New Zealand.
Where did you grow up and how was growing up there for you?
I whakapapa to Ngā Puhi but was born in Christchurch, grew up in Southland, and if anybody knows what Southland is giving, it’s bad for a young Māori queer boy. I went to an all-boys high school in Dunedin and had an alright time. I had my close friends and just kept it small.
Did you have a coming-out experience?
I moved to Wellington when I was 18 and went to Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. I grew more into myself and learnt more about who I am in that space, around my new community of friends. I think my parents always knew.
What was the Toi Whakaari experience like for you?
Pretty full on. Going straight out of high school into a space where you’re moulded to be able to craft your own creative practice. It was definitely confronting! Training there was so full on, but it’s given me so many skills I carry into the industry now.
Why did you want to be a part of PUNCH?
I have a lot of empathy for Whetu and his story. His displacement as a Māori and a queer person. Around that time in my life I was questioning, what does that mean for me? How do I practice that in a way that fulfils, not society’s norm of what queer or gay means, but on a whole level: spiritually, physically and mentally? So I was excited to bring a voice to that character. It was perfect timing, in terms of my own questions intertwined with Whetu’s.
Did playing Whetu teach you anything about yourself?
I viewed him as someone who has a lot of walls up, which gradually throughout the film fall away. You see glimpses of hope of what it could be like for him to leave a town where you’re constantly faced with toxic masculinity and homophobia. I definitely learned a sense of pride and gratitude in owning who I am.
There’s a line in PUNCH that particularly resonated with me, where Jim says, “people think it’s all rainbow flags and pride parades now, but it’s not like that.” Did that resonate with you?
For sure! It’s awesome that queerness and the community have become more mainstream. But the undercurrents of what it’s like, even here in Auckland, aren’t all rainbows and sunshine. We still have people that identify as non-binary who have some of the highest rates of mental health and suicide. The trans community is still overlooked in so many ways. We’ve got these businesses that fly rainbow flags for a month, and then they’re gone. I really resonated with it.
Obviously, the chemistry between you and Jordan was critical to PUNCH’s success. What was it like to work with him?
Jordan’s the most optimistic, awesome guy. I felt so comfortable with him. We worked closely with the intimacy coordinator, who had different tasks for us to do together, not only on a physical level but on an emotional level, pushing boundaries in a safe way. We shared the same trailer together. We would always be in there chatting, connecting and laughing. It was great.
Can you give us some examples of the intimacy coordinator’s tasks?
When we shot our love scene, each breath, each touch, whether you stroke his arm or grab his arm, it’s all heavily choreographed. So we know exactly moment by moment, how it’s going to feel. It was just like a dance.
What was it like working with Welby Ings?
Working with Welby was beautiful. He’s someone who takes a lot of pride in the small and integral details of his work. Each line had a huge backstory and he had a lot of resources to give me as an actor, so I could see the writer’s and director’s point of view and then mould it my way.
What would you like audiences to take away from Punch?
Whether you are takatāpui, gay, bi, queer, or trans, just know it’s safe to give and share authentic love with one another. Whether that’s platonic family love, or love that this country doesn’t talk about much or show a lot on screen. I would love a dad and their son to see it and just learn if you have an instinct to wrap your arm around your kid – do it! Men need to love each other.
PUNCH is out in cinemas nationwide now.
