The story is an odyssey, in which the director (Sam Pillsbury) airs his sense of social injustices, but in a reasonably gentle style (although the protest isn't gentle). The film also speaks to us in another age, far removed from depression era, post-WWI, New Zealand, though in fact, very little seems to have actually changed. After all, here in 21st century America, the poor are still being evicted and dumped onto the streets, soldiers are still send to fight and die for dubious (and fictitious) causes, while their veteran's benefits are slashed and their enlistment contracts are ignored. Far too many people must still seek medical help in charity institutions. Yet all the while we have to listen to the insufferable platitudes of officials declaring the wonders of the human condition in this great and wonderful land, while perhaps as many as 20 million American children will go to bed hungry tonight. Somewhere in this (not totally perfect) little treasure is a wry sense of humor between the embittered war-veteran (Peter Phelps) and the runaway teenage girl (Greer Robson, a great beauty, now a bit more grownup than the little girl who played the late and great Bruno Lawrence's daughter in "Smash Palace (1981)", now available on DVD). Their growing affection, in light of their mutual dependence on each other, provides the hint of a love story. I have always been very fond (sentimentally so, I admit) of this almost unknown little film. Unfortunately, now available only on previously viewed videotape, from private sellers (in the USA, see Amazon.com third-party sellers).