- Events
- ‘The Man in the Hat’ film screening
‘The Man in the Hat’ film screening
Part of Jan and Luit Bieringa collection series
Tuesday 11 July 2023, 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Free
The man in the hat is Wellington art dealer Peter McLeavey, who ran his influential gallery in Cuba Street for over forty years. In this lyrical documentary, Luit Bieringa tells the story of McLeavey through interviews and readings of his correspondence.
Jan and Luit Bieringa documentary collection film screenings
In July and August, we are screening five films from the Jan and Luit Bieringa documentary collection. This is the second film screening in that series. These landmark documentaries expand our understanding and appreciation of important contributors to our culture and the ongoing discussions about them.
This film will be introduced by art historian and curator Jill Trevelyan.
Watch a documentary about art dealer Peter McLeavey
Art dealer Peter McLeavey has run his gallery in the centre of Wellington for 40 years. His personal story (filmed by award-winning cinematographer Leon Narbey) is also the story of that part of the city where he lives and works. It is a film about a human being putting a stake in the ground, rather than a documentary about New Zealand art.
McLeavey talks about his life, including his peripatetic childhood around the North Island as the son of an Irish Catholic railway worker and his early love of art. He also discusses his determination from age 12 to visit Europe, discovering his New Zealand identity while living in London, and returning home to contribute to the country’s culture as one of its outstanding art dealers.
“There’s an airy feeling of existential inquiry floating through Luit Bieringa’s lovely portrait … the lyrical picture of McLeavey’s Wellington is interspersed with readings (by Sam Neill) from his correspondence with artists, and frank conversations with the man himself.” – Bill Gosden, Director, New Zealand International Film Festival
More screenings of films from the Jan and Luit Bieringa documentary collection
Save the dates in your diary for the five documentaries we are screening from the Luit and Jan Bieringa documentary collection.
Dates of Jan and Luit Bieringa documentary collection film screenings
Check before you come
Due to COVID-19 some of our events can be cancelled or postponed at very short notice. Please check the website for updated information about individual events before you come. For more general information about National Library services and exhibitions have look at our COVID-19 page.
Peter McLeavey with John Reynolds' Looking west, late afternoon, low water, 2007. Courtesy Dominion Post.