Sunshine’s sisters

Auckland film maker Christine Jeffs created the independent feature Sunshine Cleaning with sisters in mind, and being one herself, Jeffs told The Age, she wanted to explore the dynamics between older and younger siblings. The nature (often flawed) of family is the bedrock of each film Jeffs has made. “They give you such an interesting dynamic,” she admits, although Sunshine Cleaning definitely has the winsome rhythms and the emotional resolutions that dominate American independent features right now. Still, within that familiar landscape, Jeffs was able to illuminate her characters, specifically the film’s Lorkowski sisters, played by Amy Adams and Emily Blunt. Sunshine Cleaning was widely distributed in America in March and is still playing to audiences now. “It’s hard to make any film at the moment, but they’re calling it the indie hit of the year, whatever that means,” concedes Jeffs with a rueful laugh. Jeffs is best known for directing the 2003 film Sylvia starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig.