It took Andrew Leavold seven years to complete his film The Search for Weng Weng, his tale of his own slightly concerning freakishly obsessive search for the two-foot-nine James Bond of the Philippines, the star of For Y’ur Height Only and The Impossible Kid. You can read our review of The Search For Weng Weng here.
He has now written a book about his odyssey, which is what he sees as the definitive search for Weng Weng, an even wilder and woollier tale told by the film-maker himself, as he travels from Imelda Marcos’ birthday party to the poorest slums of Manila, on the trail of one the Philippines’ most unlikeliest heroes – and most heartbreaking stories. It features all of the stories he couldn’t squeeze into the doco as well as more information that has come to light since he made the film. He calls it the ‘movie x10.’
It’s part detective story and midget bio, part gonzo travelogue, part Filipino B Film history lesson, and part magical Quest for the Holy Grail – if the Grail is a two foot nine James Bond of the Philippines.
He is currently on an Australian and New Zealand screening and book tour:
MELBOURNE – Monday 3rd April at the Astor Theatre, St Kilda [Q&A hosted by Fatal Visions’ Michael Helms]
SYDNEY – Wednesday 5th April at the Randwick Ritz [Q&A hosted by Filmink’s Dov Kornits]
ADELAIDE – Friday 7th April at the Mercury Cinema [Q&A hosted by Trasharama-a-go-go’s Dick Dale]
DUNEDIN – Sunday 9th April at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery
AUCKLAND – date/venue TBC
WELLINGTON Wednesday 12th April at the Roxy Cinema
