Feature Film
The Lovely Bones
2009
Filmed In
Wairarapa · Wellington
Towns & Areas
Near Masterton and Greytown, Wairarapa · Stone Street Studios, Miramar, Wellington
The Story
A visually stunning and emotional adaptation of Alice Sebold's best-selling novel. It follows a murdered 14-year-old girl who watches over her grieving family — and her killer — from the vibrant, surreal landscape of the "In-Between" afterlife.
The Stars
Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, and Stanley Tucci. This ensemble anchors a story split between grounded American drama and a surreal, entirely New Zealand-shot afterlife.
Behind the Lens
Directed by Sir Peter Jackson. Jackson took on a more intimate, character-driven project here compared to the large-scale fantasy work he'd just completed.
Why NZ?
While the real-world scenes were shot in Pennsylvania, Jackson chose his home turf to manifest the ethereal, dreamlike world of the afterlife. The stunning, rolling green hills of the Wairarapa region were transformed into a magical, shifting paradise. The contrast between the grounded Pennsylvania scenes and the surreal New Zealand-shot afterlife sequences is part of what gives the film its distinct visual identity.
On Set
Saoirse Ronan spent six months filming in New Zealand at age 13 and has called the experience her "most-treasured stamp." Ryan Gosling was originally cast in a lead role, gained roughly 60 pounds to prepare for the part, and was let go from the production only days before filming began. The contrast between the two shooting locations became part of the film's visual signature.
Legacy
Based on Alice Sebold's best-selling novel, the film's depiction of the afterlife relied heavily on New Zealand landscapes standing in for a world that exists nowhere on any map.
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