Same But Different: A True New Zealand Love Story

Completed201995 min

Rachel is a single mother who does not expect a new connection to rearrange her understanding of herself. Meeting Nikki, a Samoan filmmaker,…Read more +Read less −

Rachel is a single mother who does not expect a new connection to rearrange her understanding of herself. Meeting Nikki, a Samoan filmmaker, nevertheless sets something in motion that is difficult to ignore. The attraction is immediate, but turning it into a relationship requires more than recognising a feeling. Uncertainty, crossed messages and the presence of a former partner repeatedly complicate the women's efforts to move toward each other. Inspired by the filmmakers' own relationship, this New Zealand romantic comedy follows a courtship shaped by different backgrounds and familiar fears. It finds both humour and tenderness in the gap between wanting somebody and making room for them, allowing its two women to be hesitant, hopeful and imperfect on their way toward a shared life.

Watch trailer

Drama Romance Comedy

Sapphic characters & cast

Robyn Paterson

as Rachel

Main sapphic character

NZ On Screen credited actor profile publicity photo

Hannah Martin

as Nikki

Main sapphic character

Performer / professional representative publicity photo

YOUR FIRST LOOK

Watch the trailer

Watch trailer on nzonscreen.com ↗

BEHIND THE SCENES

Details & credits

Alternative titles: Same But Different
Country: New Zealand
Language: English
Premiere: 2019-05-04
Runtime: 95 minutes
Director: Nikki Si’ulepa

Film key art via Flicks NZ

Artwork source & permission status

Editorial review approved — rights not independently confirmed

Film key art via Flicks NZ

Original publication ↗

Sources & editorial notes (7)

Last researched 2026-10-30. Editorially approved.

year: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence
genres: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence
status: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence
country: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence
language: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence
directors: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence
description: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence
trailer url: NZ On Screen official one-minute trailer; NOT a full-film viewing link
western cast: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence
premiere date: Venue confirms world premiere postponed from March 28 after Christchurch attacks to May 4, 2019. Supersedes stale March 28 listings. General theatrical dates differ.
runtime minutes: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence
alternative titles: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence
classification note: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence
representation type: Film identity and sourced lead eligibility evidence