11 March, 2008
HONOLULU – Matador Pictures and Island Film Group are delighted to announce the first day of production on the inspiring true story, “BARBARIAN PRINCESS” with The New World star Q’orianka Kilcher, Barry Pepper (Flags of Our Fathers, The Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan), Will Patton (A Mighty Heart, Remember the Titans, Armageddon) and Shaun Evans (Being Julia, Cashback). Marc Forby will direct.
Filming will take place in Honolulu, Hawai`i and in Norfolk, England. For the first time in history a feature film will include the interior of Honolulu’s ‘Iolani Palace, home of the Hawaiian Monarchy.
Set against the dramatic island backdrop of Hawai`i and based on the inspiring true story of Princess Ka`iulani, played by Kilcher, Barbarian Princess is a breathtaking romance about an unlikely heroine and her unwavering fight to defend the independence of her people. In 1888, Hawai`i is a kingdom on the verge of civil war. Forced to flee, Princess Ka’iulani, the only heir to the throne, arrives in Victorian England and must adapt to a new life with an English family, and she falls in love with the rebellious and sweet-natured Clive, played by Evans. Her love is tested when news of the overthrow prompts her return to Hawai`i and sparks her fight to save the monarchy.
The film is being produced by the UK’s Matador Pictures and Hawai`i-based Island Film Group. Matador’s Nigel Thomas (The Wind that Shakes the Barley) and Lauri Apelian and IFG’s Ricardo Galindez and Roy Tjioe will produce. Barbarian Princess is being backed by the Future Films USA, LLC, Future Films Production Services in the UK and the UK regional screen agency, Screen East. Sales will be handled by ContentFilm International.
Among the crew is Steven Lawrence, who won the Award for Excellence in Production Design for Casino Royale and Titanic, along with D.O.P. Gabriel Beristain (The Night Watchman, The Green Mile).
Matador’s Apelian said, “This is a powerful, epic story about the strength of a young woman who is forced to choose between the love for her country and the love of a man. It’s steeped in American and Hawaiian history, and filled with passion and determination. It’s very exciting to be a part of this film which has attracted an award-winning cast and crew.”
ContentFilm President, Jamie Carmichael, said, “Q’orianka Kilcher is the heart and soul of this deeply romantic film and the early pictures of her in costume have been breathtaking – and of course the fact that it’s based on a true story just adds even greater depth.”
IFG’s Galindez explained that “the title is intended as an ironic juxtaposition because the Princess, who was half Scottish, was in reality very beautiful and refined.” IFG’s Tjioe added, “the American press saw her in person and were stunned to realize that she was anything but barbaric. Her story is heroic and tragic, and we wanted to share her role in Hawai`i’s fascinating history with the rest of the world.” Sensitive to the need to be historically accurate,
Director Forby said, “Hawai`i’s demise as a nation is the great untold story of colonial America. The facts are mind-boggling. I’m honored to tell the story through such a touching, romantic epic.”
