Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema: Joy

Overview

The popularity of openair cinema is on the rise in Auckland. The latest exhibit being the appropriately-titled 'Openair Cinema' from the hands of global ice cream makers Ben & Jerry's. The first 'Sundae Session' in the month's worth of outdoor screenings will feature popular 2015 rags-to-riches tale, Joy.

With a cast led by A-list actors Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro, the film is a fictionalised account of the rise of a real-life home shopping network star. In the early 1990s, Joy Mangano (Lawrence) was a Long Island divorcee coping with caring for her two young children while living in a house with her daytime TV-loving mother (Virginia Madsen), ailing grandmother (Diane Ladd), singer ex-husband (Edgar Ramirez) and thrice-married father (De Niro). Then, while cleaning up spilled wine, she came up with the idea for the first-ever self-wringing mop. Enter an Italian investor (Isabella Rossellini), and, eventually, a television executive (Cooper). It comes from the director of lauded Hollywood blockbusters Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.

As well as the film, the dessert aficionados will bring live tunes, outdoor games and complimentary Ben & Jerry's ice cream to Auckland’s Western Springs Park. For those of age, there will be a fully licensed bar on hand with a selection of Giesen wines, Monteith’s Beer, Rekorderlig Cider and free samples of Aperol Spritz. Ponsonby eatery Farina will also be serving up their pared-back Italian cuisine.