Join us tomorrow at Lumière Cinemas (Bernhardt) in Ōtautahi Christchurch for a screening of Grace: A Prayer for Peace, followed by an in-person Q&A with acclaimed filmmaker Gaylene Preston.

This luminous documentary offers a tender and richly textured portrait of Dame Robin White, one of Aotearoa’s most significant living artists. Preston’s approach is subtle yet masterful—she resists grand pronouncements in favour of quiet moments of insight, such as when White reflects on her own painting: “This is me as a young painter trying to figure out how to paint.” 

Filmed across Aotearoa, Japan, and Kiribati, the film traces White’s evolving artistic journey. It captures her in full creative vigour—collaborating across cultures, inspired by her Bahá’í faith and unwavering belief in peace and shared humanity. The result is beautifully minimal storytelling that is deeply moving and profoundly resonant.

Grace stands as “a prayer for peace,” not passive reflection but an act of imaginative resistance—filled with inventiveness, warmth, quiet wit, and enduring hope. 

This Q&A with Gaylene Preston is a rare chance to hear the director’s own reflections on Robin White’s artistry, the film’s creative vision, and why these themes feel urgent in our time. Whether you are deeply familiar with Preston’s work or encountering it anew, this screening offers something truly special.