Rain (2001)
A sun-drenched New Zealand summer turns quietly devastating as one family's holiday unravels into desire, betrayal, and loss.
Rain - Movie Information
- Release Year: 2001
- Directed by: Christine Jeffs
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 4, 2001 (New Zealand - M), April 26, 2002 (United States)
- Production Companies: New Zealand Film Commission, Communicado Productions, Rain Film Productions, Rose Road
- Production Countries: New Zealand
Rain - Plot
Janey is on vacation with her family at their beach house on the Mahurangi Peninsula in New Zealand. Her parents, Ed and Kate, are on the verge of divorce and sit around drinking whiskey all day, while Janey and Jim are left to their own devices. Cady, a local boaty who is having an affair with Kate, catches Janey's pubescent eye.
Rain - Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Christine Jeffs' atmospheric New Zealand drama.
Be careful what your heart desires.
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Rain - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Christine Jeffs
Main Cast
- Alicia Fulford-Wierzbicki
- Sarah Peirse
- Alistair Browning
- Marton Csokas
- Alastair Browning
- Aaron Murphy
- Alison Routledge
- David Taylor
- Chris Sherwood
- Claire Dougan
Writers
- Christine Jeffs
Producers
- Philippa Campbell
Rain - FAQs
What is Rain (2001) about?
Rain follows a New Zealand family whose summer beach holiday quietly falls apart. With her parents' marriage crumbling and alcohol flowing freely, teenage Janey finds herself drawn to Cady, a charismatic local sailor who is also sleeping with her mother. It's a tender, unsettling portrait of adolescence and family fracture.
Who are the main actors in Rain?
The film stars Alicia Fulford-Wierzbicki as the watchful, yearning Janey, Sarah Peirse as her emotionally adrift mother Kate, Alistair Browning as the father Ed, and Marton Csokas as the magnetic sailor Cady. Aaron Murphy plays Janey's younger brother Jim.
Is Rain based on a true story or a book?
Rain is adapted from Kirsty Gunn's 1994 novel of the same name. Director Christine Jeffs, who also wrote the screenplay, drew closely from Gunn's lyrical, elliptical prose to craft the film's dreamy, melancholic atmosphere set on the New Zealand coastline.
Who directed Rain (2001)?
Rain was directed by Christine Jeffs, a New Zealand filmmaker making her feature debut. Jeffs also wrote the screenplay herself, adapting Kirsty Gunn's novel. She later went on to direct Sylvia (2003) and Sunshine Cleaning (2008).
What does the ending of Rain mean?
The film's ending is deliberately ambiguous and poetic. A tragedy involving water brings the family's fractured summer to a devastating close, and Janey must carry the weight of what she has witnessed and desired. The conclusion suggests that innocence, once lost, cannot be reclaimed — only quietly mourned.
When was Rain released?
Rain premiered in New Zealand on October 4, 2001, where it received an M rating. It reached US audiences on April 26, 2002. The film was produced with support from the New Zealand Film Commission and went on to earn strong critical praise on the international festival circuit.
How long is Rain (2001)?
Rain runs for 92 minutes, making it a compact, immersive watch. Director Christine Jeffs keeps the pacing unhurried and atmospheric, letting the coastal setting and the characters' emotional silences do much of the storytelling work across the film's lean runtime.
What are some films similar to Rain?
If Rain resonated with you, you might also enjoy The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004), Old Joy (2006), or One Fine Morning (2022) — films that share Rain's quiet intensity and focus on fractured relationships. The Anniversary Party (2001) and No Bears (2022) are also worth exploring.
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