Cinema
Once Were Warriors
Lee Tamahori · 1994
Synopsis
Beth once left her Maori village, against the wishes of her family, to marry Jake Heke. Eighteen years later, the couple and their five children live in a run-down house in a poor neighbourhood of south Auckland. Jake loses his job, lives on benefits, drinks, fights and beats his wife; Beth in turn starts to drink. The eldest, Nig, joins a gang; Boogie is placed in a children's home, where he reconnects with his culture; Grace, thirteen, keeps a diary for her brothers and sisters.
Context
The film adapts Alan Duff's bestselling novel, published in 1990, from a screenplay by Riwia Brown; it is its director's first feature film and the first production of Communicado, with Robin Scholes. Rena Owen plays Beth, Temuera Morrison Jake, Cliff Curtis Bully, under the camerawork of Stuart Dryburgh. Released at home in May 1994, it earned 6.7 million New Zealand dollars and appeared in France on 5 July 1995 under the title L'Âme des guerriers.
Who it is for
One hundred and two minutes, in English. The scenes of domestic and family violence are shown without flinching.
Prizes and reception
The country's box-office record on its release, some twenty awards, including awards at Montreal, Rotterdam and Venice; voted the best New Zealand film in 2014.