Family, Film & Friendship

lat year was a big one for former TV journalist Amanda Millar and her daughter Tennessee Mansford, with the release of their first big-screen film and the arrival of Amanda’s first grandchild. The pair talk to Emma Clifton about working together and their journey to produce a tribute to social justice advocate and friend Celia Lashlie.

There were two productions that changed the life of former 60 Minutes reporter Amanda Millar in 2018, and one of them is asleep, wearing a pink tutu. Tiny Augusta Smith, at four weeks old, has run the gauntlet of emotions available to newborn babies during the course of her Australian Women’s Weekly photo shoot: rage, sleep, adorableness. Held in the arms of her mother, Tennessee Mansford – Amanda’s 28-year-old daughter – throughout the shoot, Augusta’s arrival in December was the bookend of a momentous, brave year for Amanda, who made her big-screen directorial debut for the documentary Celia, about the life, work and unexpected death of her good friend and social justice advocate Celia Lashlie.

The documentary became the hit of the New Zealand Film Festival late last year, referred to as “compulsory viewing” by one critic. But it was something of a miracle it was made at all.

At the end of 2014, Celia, a tireless campaigner and something of a New Zealand icon was, at just 61, diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. She was given, best case scenario, 12 to 18 months to live. But life doesn’t always deliver a best case scenario. Shortly after her diagnosis, Celia contacted Amanda, whom she had met some 15 years earlier when Amanda interviewed her for 20/20 about her work in women’s prisons. The pair had formed a lasting friendship. Celia, a private person, allowed Amanda into her

inner circle and Amanda became dedicated to Celia both as a friend but also a force for change, someone who had the ability to shine a light on New Zealand’s darkest realities with a combination of clarity, hope and never, ever judgement. So it was only right that the pair would reunite for what would be Celia’s final extraordinary work.