Home by Christmas

The story

A remarkable memoir of resilience, determination and love.Based on filmmaker Gaylene Preston's interviews with her father about his World War II experiences, reconstructed with actor Tony Barry as Ed Preston. Weaving strands of poetic imagined drama, and archival footage into the interview, Preston presents both sides of her parents' wartime marriage: the horror and hardship of battlefield and prison camp juxtaposed with the loneliness and grief of a young wife struggling with a newborn baby and a husband declared missing.Ed Preston, on his way home from rugby practice in 1940, joins the New Zealand Army to go to World War II. His new wife, Tui, is pregnant and distraught, but he tells her not to worry, he'll be home by Christmas. And so he is - four years later - after escaping from a prison camp in Italy. But while Ed is away, Tui has fallen in love with another man.

Cast & crew

Martin HendersonEd Preston

Jed BrophyMart Preston

Tony BarryEd

Nick BlakeLes Harker

Byron CollHoppy

Peter HambletonSgt Syd Gurton

Richard KnowlesVic

Kate McGillSelina

Chelsie Preston CrayfordTui