Maurice and I is a richly told independent film centred on the interpersonal dynamic between Sir Miles Warren and his architectural partner, Maurice Mahoney the co-founders of — the now third-generation, multi award-winning practice — Warren and Mahoney.

The storyline reveals how the iconic pairing leveraged Sir Miles’ charisma and flair with Mahoney’s understated attention to detail and follows how these two visionary architects brought Modernism to Christchurch and Brutalism to New Zealand.

Of the thousands of homes and commercial buildings Warren and Mahoney designed, one in particular had a far-reaching influence. With the acoustic innovations of Sir Harold Marshall, the Christchurch Town Hall revolutionised the design approach to performance spaces and acoustic engineering and became a favourite venue for some of the globe’s biggest stars.

The Christchurch Town Hall was regarded by many, including the architects themselves, as their finest work. Since its opening on 30 September in 1972, it has garnered international acclaim for its elegant, Brutalist form, sophisticated interiors, and world-leading acoustics.

So when the government’s post-quake plan threatened to demolish this iconic Christchurch landmark, Sir Miles and Maurice Mahoney (then in their 80s) joined hundreds of others to fight for its survival.

Through rare archival footage and exclusive interviews — including their final conversation together — Maurice and I reflects on the remarkable legacy of Warren and Mahoney, the community impact of their bold architectural vision, and the enduring importance of architecture in shaping and enriching our lives.

Co-directed by Jane Mahoney, the film is a love letter from a daughter to her father, a celebration of community, a tribute to the loss and trauma that a city lived through, and a cautionary tale of the social and environmental cost of a government-led ‘fast-tracking’ imperative.

The film enjoyed a successful, limited release as part of the Resene Architecture and Design Film Festival in May ’24. It has been running in Christchurch theatres since then to become the highest grossing film ever at the Deluxe Cinemas. In October, the directors will take it international to show at the Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam, one of the world’s most prestigious architecture film festivals.

Audiences at home have been captivated by the documentary from day one. Directors Rick Harvie and Jane Mahoney (daughter of the late architect Maurice Mahoney) have had their inboxes flooded with response from cinema-goers.

“A triumph of yin and yang,” said one. “The restraint and the extravagance, Miles and Maurice, funny and serious, sad and joyous. It’s a marvel.” 

“The most impressive thing I’ve seen and experienced for as long as I can remember,” declared another. “My eyes wouldn’t stop leaking… Everyone should see it.”

Read a review by Julia Gatley here.

Watch the trailer here: