Donna Dean is one of New Zealand’s most respected songwriters — twice winner of New Zealand Country Music Album of the Year — an artist who has recorded and toured all over the world to critical acclaim.
But Donna’s has been no easy road. She grew up in Auckland’s Glen Innes in a home beset by alcoholism, abuse and violence. When she left home at 15, Donna found herself pregnant and, just like her mother, caught up in a violent relationship. She turned to alcohol to hide the pain.
Donna’s mother, however, had instilled in her daughter a profound love for music — and it was this, along with Donna’s willpower and determination, that would eventually give her a way out of the darkness — escaping a cycle of violence and addiction to become a successful and much-loved songwriter.
The film follows Donna and her band on their recent tour of the United States, then finally brings her home to confront her past.
Winner: Best New Zealand Editing, Doc Edge Festival 2016 .
When: 25 November, 2017
Where: Auckland Art Gallery and Wellington Embassy Theatre
Ticket Information: docedge.nz
Check out the Auckland and Wellington Event Pages for more information and view the trailer below.