Lost in Wonderland is a humorous yet surprisingly moving documentary about one of New Zealand's great eccentrics, a flamboyant cross-dressing lawyer.
Rob Moodie has fought all his life for difficult or alternative causes, taking on courts, corporations, and governments. This is a story about his life and times, his unusual take on masculinity, and an epic legal case on which he staked his reputation and career.
The name Rob Moodie is little known outside New Zealand, but a spectacular appearance at the NZ High Court In 2007 caught the world's attention. Moodie turned up to defend himself on a charge of contempt dressed as Alice in Wonderland, complete with petticoats and pearls. He even went so far as to legally change his name, forcing the court to address him as "Miss Alice".
International newspapers carried photos of Moodie in his custom-made Alice dress, holding a posy of flowers. The Times of London saluted him for "the most bizarre conduct by a lawyer". Moodie enjoyed the attention, and used it to advance his campaign against gender stereotypes.
But this is more than a tale about an oddball in funny clothes. Lost in Wonderland ultimately uncovers a shocking and deeply moving story of a family destroyed by poverty, revealing the true motivation for Moodie's hatred of injustice. (From New Zealand) (Documentary) PG CC |
