Once Were Warriors (1994)

Director:

Lee Tamahori

Writers:

Riwia Brown (writer)
Alan Duff (novel)

Release Date:

3 March 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Her only chance for the future is to embrace the power of her past.

Plot:

A family descended from Maori warriors is bedeviled by a violent father and the societal problems of being treated as outcasts.

Plot Keywords:

New Zealand | Police | Violence | Maori | Gang

Awards:

19 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Rena Owen	...	Beth Heke
Temuera Morrison	...	Jake Heke
Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell	...	Grace Heke
Julian Arahanga	...	Nig Heke
Taungaroa Emile	...	Boogie Heke
Rachael Morris Jr.	...	Polly Heke
Joseph Kairau	...	Huata Heke
Cliff Curtis	...	Bully
Pete Smith	...	Dooley
George Henare	...	Bennett
Mere Boynton	...	Mavis
Shannon Williams	...	Toot
Calvin Tuteao	...	Taka (Gang Leader)
Ray Bishop	...	King Hitter (in pub)
Ian Mune	...	Judge

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language and strong depiction of domestic abuse, including sexual violence and substance abuse.

Runtime:

99 min | Argentina:106 min | USA:103 min

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English | Maori | Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Italy:T (re-rating) (2006) | Italy:VM14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (f) | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Communicado Productions

Trivia:

The building used for the interior and exterior courtroom shots is the main office and warehouse in New Zealand for Apple Computer's national distributor. Although the entrance has been remodeled and the reception area totally changed, the small wall tiles seen on the interior walls can still be found in what is now a cupboard under the (now-enclosed) staircase shown.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the opening scenes, Beth Heke is walking past the yard where some men are working out with weights. One man is "spotting" the other man who is doing bench-presses. As the camera changes angles, the man who is spotting changes from spotting with his palms facing down to actually doing "curls" with the bar that the other man is pressing up and down. Each time there is a change in the camera angle, his grip on the bar goes back and forth from palms-up/curling to palms-down/shoulder shrugs. This happens several times.

Quotes:

[after giving an obnoxious punk a beating]
Jake Heke: I was right... too much weights, not enough speedwork. Useless prick.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Getaway: (#16.35)" (2007)

A Powerful Depiction of a Family Coming Apart

There are films where you can see extensive carnage and it doesn't move you. This is a film where you see a man hit his wife and it hits you in the gut like you're being hit yourself. An excellent depiction of the impact of anger and violence on the members of a poor family. In this case, they happen to be Maoris living in New Zealand. The father dominates the family because he is so powerless in the other facets of his life. He's addicted to boozing and carousing and the only way he can really express himself is with his fists. The wife fights back, but can be beaten into submission. But she's also allowed herself to be seduced by the boozy lifestyle and fears responsibility. The center of the family is the oldest daughter (13), who is really the only one who can communicate with all the other members. The boys are either lost in life or lost in their own rage. The youngest daughter is simply too small and clings to her sister. It takes a tragedy to allow some of these individuals to reach out for each other and try to re-create a form of family life. A very powerful film, not for the faint of heart.