The Last Western Heretic

World Premiere

The Last Western Heretic is a timely and enthralling insight into the ideas and philosophies of a New Zealander described by the BBC as “the last living heretic”. Now 89 years-old, Lloyd Geering, is still deeply involved in the debate of ideas about life and religion, and more recently, the very survival of human beings and the planet to which we belong.

He is without doubt New Zealand’s foremost theologian; a long-standing Presbyterian minister who doesn’t believe in a personal God, a man of the church who fearlessly challenges all Christian and secular ideas, and was once famously and controversially tried unsuccessfully for heresy — or as it was formally called “doctrinal error and disturbing the peace of the church”.

Possessing a sharp intellect, Geering is a New Zealand icon who was one of the key intellectual figures of our nation throughout the last half of the 20th century.

Director Oomen explores Geering’s world view in a series of controversial and richly illustrated statements, and in doing so, makes simple and comprehensible the powerful theological and cultural ideas underpinning western civilisation. In doing so, the film captures the ideas and philosophy of an influential New Zealander, and offers an insight into how our beliefs and assumptions developed and where they might go in the future.