Toa Fraser’s “Dean Spanley” is a Rare Pleasure

Film critics at Toronto’s International Film Festival have described Toa Fraser’s latest feature film Dean Spanley as “a rare pleasure”. Other critics around the world have added their rave reviews to this “wonderfully eccentric” comedy-drama. Set in Edwardian England with a cast of first rank (including Peter O’Toole and Sam Neill), the film is worlds apart from Fraser’s first feature, the widely acclaimed No. 2 (2006). This latest success contributes significantly to other recent Pacific achievements in film (such as Sima Urale’s Apron Strings) and will enhance his growing reputation as one of the Pacific’s young, exciting, and versatile film-makers.