The Big O.E.

2000 DOCUMENTARY SERIES - PARTS 1-8

Birth, death and occasionally marriage - these are the few remaining rites of passage left today in the Western world.
In New Zealand however, there is also the Big OE.

This trip away from all that is familiar, to cope alone on the other side of the world has become a critical part of New Zealand's cultural identity.
MF Films eight part series is no travelogue. Each character, as described below, grow and learn about themselves, love and what it is be a New Zealander. The trip confirms for them what it is they love about New Zealand by comparing it with what they see and experience on their trip.
Of 45 travellers on the bus MF Films have focussed on six major characters. All of whom you would call "mainstream New Zealanders".
From day one the bus and its journey proved to be a metaphor for the emotional journey into the unknown that our "characters" were travelling on. The Kiwis set themselves up at the back of the bus, hung the black NZ flag and away they went. The bus moves from the hedonism of Amsterdam through the lush mountains of Austria into the suave style of Italy and out into the freedom of riding the waves around Greece in a yacht. We get to know each individual as they get to- know one another and bond and develop as " Kiwis Abroad".
Over the journey as their characters develop we see them as endearing, enchanting, vulgar, repulsive, arrogant, confrontational, democratic and charming - dressed as only Kiwis can, in their casual Kia Kaha tracksuits, Canterbury rugby shirts and bone carvings.
Each individual was collecting experiences, souvenirs and photos to take back home to prove they had done "the Big OE" and hence it would now be acceptable to settle down and get on with life. This was especially true of the girls.
The trip was a camping style tour. Most nights the travellers had to pitch their own tents, which they did with their no nonsense Kiwi "can do" attitude, while reflecting on camping trips back home. Everyone at some stage felt homesick. They see the trip away as a challenge, they said they were "doing it" and so they will do it, but home is still the best place.
Most of the characters see this time away as the only trip overseas they will have so they try and do anything and everything. This really is their BIG OE.
As the journey/series progresses we learn more about the life each character has back home, where they have come from and what their plans are for the future. The trip reaffirms who they are and where they are going in life.

The Big OE was TV3's highest rating NZ production in 2000.

Producer: Michele Fantl.
Director: Phil Prendeville.
Research/Production: Linda Keown.

Watch a clip here.
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