A few tickets remain for
‘Damien’ premiere

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

Though tickets for the long-awaited screening of "Molokai: The Story of Father Damien" on Maui Sept. 22 are sold out, tickets remain available for screenings on Molokai on Sept. 21. -- where it is making its Hawaii debut -- and on Oahu Sept. 23.

Paul Cox, the film's director, Australian actor David Wenham, who plays Father Damien, and the film's producer, Tharsi Vanhuysse, are expected to attend all screenings.

The film is making its North American premier at the Toronto Film Festival.

Hawaii screenings are as follows:

Sept. 21: On Molokai, at the Wallace Theatres in Maunaloa town, with screenings at 2, 5 and 8 p.m. A private screening for Kalaupapa patients will be held earlier in the day. Tickets are $10 each and available at the theater the day of the screening.

Sept. 21: (Sold out) At the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theatre; 7:30 p.m. A few premium tickets at $50 each remain for the post-premiere fund-raiser at MACC's McCoy Studio Theatre. For information and reservations call (808)-242-SHOW (7469).

Sept. 23: At Oahu's Hawaii Theatre Center, 7 p.m. Tickets are $16; $50 includes the screening and post-premiere party at Indigo Restaurant.

Tickets may be purchased through the Hawaii Theatre Box Office by calling 528-0506. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and two hours prior to all ticketed events.

"Molokai: The Story of Father Damien" is being presented by the Maui Film Festival in a benefit screening for Molokai General Hospital, Na Pu'uwai Inc. (a native Hawaiian health organization on Molokai) and the Damien Foundation, whose mission is to eradicate Hansen's Disease worldwide.

KHNL Hawaii News 8 will air an hourlong special, "The Making of 'Molokai: The Story of Father Damien,' " at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Shot on Molokai and on Oahu, the film tells the story of Belgian priest Damien DeVeuster from 1872, the year before his arrival in Kalaupapa, through his years ministering to the Hansen's Disease patients at Kalaupapa, until his death at the Molokai settlement in 1889.

In addition to David Wenham who plays Father Damien, the film also stars Maui resident Kris Kristofferson as Meyer, Derek Jacobi as Father Leonor Fousnel, Peter O'Toole as Williamson, Sam Neill as Prime Minister Gibson, and Kate Ceberano as Princess Lili'uokalani.

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