Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999)

Director:

Paul Cox

Writers:

John Briley (writer)
Hilde Eynikel (book)

Release Date:

17 March 1999 (Belgium)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

The true story of the 19th century priest who volunteered to go to the island of Molokai, to console and care for the lepers. |

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

David Wenham	...	Father Damien
Kate Ceberano	...	Princess Liliuokalani
Jan Decleir	...	Bishop Köckerman
Chris Haywood	...	Clayton Strawn
Derek Jacobi	...	Father Leonor Fouesnel
Keanu Kapuni-Szasz	...	Malulani
Alice Krige	...	Mother Marianne Cope
Kris Kristofferson	...	Rudolph Meyer
Leo McKern	...	Bishop Maigret
Sam Neill	...	Walter Murray Gibson
Peter O'Toole	...	William Williamson
Dirk Roofthooft	...	Father Conrardy
Tom Wilkinson	...	Brother Joseph Dutton
Aden Young	...	Dr. Kalewis
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kate Agnew	...	Sister Leopoldina
Nan Asuncion	...	Mrs. Meyer
Larry Bialock	...	White Gentleman
Charlene Campbell	...	Emma's Mother
Joseph Cariago Jr.	...	Teenage Little Bishop
Curtis Crabbe	...	Amon
Kimo Farm	...	Jimmy
Randy Fyjimori	...	Kaho'ohuli
Thom Hoffman	...	Dr. William Saxe
Keokeokalae Hughes	...	Old Woman
Zachary Kapule	...	Ranch Hand
Swaine Kaui	...	Sailor
Kayla Kawai	...	Elizabeth Meyer
Sylvestor Kepilino	...	Caveman
Jan Kleinejan	...	White Officer
William Lebus	...	Reverend Appleyard
Dorothy Mane	...	Celia
Richard Marks	...	Verger
Murphy Mersburg	...	Amon Cohort
Bill Ogilvie	...	Ship's Officer
George O'Hanlon Jr.	...	Evans (as George O'Hanlon)
Norbert Palea	...	Ute
Michael Pas	...	Dr. Stottard
Michael W. Perry	...	Dr. Trousseau
Kalaiwaa Pilialoha	...	Housekeeper Bishop
Ryan Rumbaugh	...	Little Bishop
George Russell	...	Reporter
Varoa Tiki	...	Old Woman
Nami Leolani	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Cox

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John Briley		writer
Hilde Eynikel		book "Damiaan, de definitieve biografie"

Produced by
John Briley	....	associate producer
Andy Howard	....	line producer
Anton Kramer	....	co-producer
Grietje Lammertyn	....	producer
Tarsicius Vanhuysse	....	producer
Alex Verbaere	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Paul Grabowsky

Cinematography by
Nino Gaetano Martinetti		(as Nino Martinetti)

Film Editing by
Kristina Hamilton-Grobler		(as Kristina Hamilton)
John Scott
Ludo Troch

Casting by
Patsy Pollock

Production Design by
Jan Petitjean

Art Direction by
Joris Mertens

Costume Design by
Bernadette Corstens

Makeup Department
Chantal Boom'la	....	makeup assistant
Don Brooker	....	special makeup effects artist
Donald Brooker	....	special makeup effects artist
Paulette Crammond	....	makeup assistant
Bryan D. Furer	....	special makeup effects artist
Camille Hendrickson	....	assistant hair stylist
Shay Lawrence	....	key makeup artist
Laine Lu	....	assistant makeup artist
Anita Morgan	....	hair stylist
Anita Morgan	....	makeup-, hair- & prosthetic assistant
Jo-Ann Nelson	....	hair department head
Jo-Ann Nelson	....	makeup department head
Jo-Ann Nelson	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Jeanine Thomason	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dirk Achten	....	third assistant director
Renaat Coppens	....	first assistant director
Martine Temmerman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Kate Agnew	....	prop assistant
Mervyn Chang	....	carpenter
Geert Crollet	....	construction foreman
Moses Dayondon	....	carpenter
Jon Piper	....	prop buyer
Warren Roberts	....	construction foreman
Kenneth K. Sato	....	construction coordinator (as Kenneth Sato)
Mark Vrijdag	....	propmaker
Ilse Willocx	....	property master
Melvin Young	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Mike Bakaloff	....	boom operator
Mathieu Cox	....	adr recordist
James Currie	....	sound engineer
Eric DeVos	....	sound editor (as Eric De Vos)
Alek Goosse	....	sound re-recordist
Senjan Jansen	....	sound editor
Bruno Langiano	....	foley artist
Maryline Lefort	....	sound editor
Marina Lerchs	....	adr recordist
Gadou Naudin	....	foley artist
Valery Simons	....	adr recordist
Bruno Tarrière	....	sound re-recording mixer
Margot Wiburd	....	sound assistant
Yuri Worontschak	....	sound
Mark Kenna	....	consultant: Dolby film sound (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kolo Barber	....	best boy
John Goldney	....	dolly grip (as Jon Goldney)
David Homcy	....	second assistant camera (as Dave Homcy)
Keola Jones	....	key grip
Mark Kalaugher	....	best boy grip
Kevin Kersting	....	key grip
Renaat Lambeets	....	steadicam operator
Shereen Saleh	....	assistant camera: second unit (as Shareen Saleh)
Hans Sonnerveld	....	first assistant camera
Roger Thompson	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Margaret Doversola	....	casting: Hawaii

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Celine Allix	....	assistant costume designer
Lori Buchanan	....	costume assistant
Anne Hoss	....	costume assistant (as Ann Hoss)
Erwina Sleutel	....	assistant costume designer
Danka Tonder	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Gert Janssen	....	assistant editor
Mieke Mestdagh	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Randy K. Fong	....	music supervisor: Hawaiian music
Paul Grabowsky	....	conductor
Wim Mertens	....	composer: additional music
Rudolf Osadnik	....	musician: violin solos (as Rudi Osadnik)
Yuri Worontschak	....	music engineer

Transportation Department
Joe Tavares	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Jason Coleman	....	production assistant
Nicole K.L.N. Ebeo	....	production coordinator
Nancy Erger	....	production assistant
Tarrah Horner	....	production assistant
Tania Kahale	....	production assistant: Molokai
John Kaiama	....	assistant animal handler
John Mabry	....	production assistant
Kathy Mabry	....	production assistant
Paul Meier	....	dialect coach
Alissa Miller	....	production assistant
Frank Mitchell	....	production assistant
Neal Naito	....	production assistant
Eric Negri	....	assistant accountant
Jeffrey D. Press	....	production accountant (as Jeff Press)
Erin Rott	....	production assistant
George Y. Russell	....	key set production assistant
Trevor Sifton	....	production assistant
Buzzy Sproat	....	animal handler
Marlene Sproat	....	animal handler
Donovan Tangonan	....	production assistant
Percy Tangonan	....	production assistant: Molokai
Petra Van Rompary	....	script supervisor
Connie Woo	....	production assistant
Robyn Zucker	....	set production assistant

Production Companies

• Era Films
• Kinepolis Film Productions

Distributors

• Aquarius TV (2004) (Greece) (DVD)
• Aquarius TV (2004) (Greece) (TV)
• Kinepolis Film Distribution (1999) (Belgium) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Motion International (Canada)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• Unapix Entertainment Productions
• Vine International Pictures

Other Companies

• Cameraquip Australia  camera equipment
• Centretrack  sound equipment
• Cinelease  grip equipment
• The Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra  music performed by

Also Known As:

Damiaan (Belgium: Flemish title)
Father Damien
Molokai: The Forbidden Island (UK) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements, some violence, brief sensuality and mild language.

Runtime:

Netherlands:109 min | Australia:122 min | USA:113 min

Country:

Belgium | Netherlands | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Era Films

Trivia:

When Father Damien mounts his horse, he says "godverdomme" in Dutch/"Flemish", which is a commonly used profanity addressing God. This is considered rather unsuitable for a priest.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Great Heart (1938)

Soundtrack:

UA HALA KA MAKUA DAMIANO

Can't see the forest through the trees

A stellar supporting cast, rich cinematography and a fine eye for detail all punctuate this near-epic account of the trials and tribulations of the legendary cleric who devoted his life (quite literally) to the care and salvation of a doomed Hawaiian leper colony. Australian David Wenham's most important role to date is set at the turn of the century, when ignorance and greed ruled most levels of secular government. This left the beneficent young priest to suffer alongside his charges while much-needed funding was going to higher-profile healers in richer colonies.

Peter O'Toole is wonderful (in a brief appearance), as are Sam Neill, Leo McKern, Alice Krige, Derek Jacobi and even Kris Kristofferson but, ultimately, it is Wenham's chore to haul this monster ashore. It's evident early on that "Molokai" lacks the heart and conviction of the selfless giant who inspired it.