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Once Were Warriors (1994)

R 102 min  -  Crime | Drama  -   3 March 1995 (USA)
7.9
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Ratings: 7.9/10 from 16,972 users  
Reviews: 261 user | 47 critic

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

Director:

Lee Tamahori

Writers:

Riwia Brown, Alan Duff (novel)
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rena Owen ...
Temuera Morrison ...
Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell ...
Julian Arahanga ...
Taungaroa Emile Taungaroa Emile ...
Rachael Morris Jr. Rachael Morris Jr. ...
Joseph Kairau Joseph Kairau ...
Cliff Curtis ...
Bully
Pete Smith Pete Smith ...
Dooley
George Henare George Henare ...
Bennett
Mere Boynton Mere Boynton ...
Shannon Williams Shannon Williams ...
Calvin Tuteao Calvin Tuteao ...
Taka (Gang Leader)
Ray Bishop Ray Bishop ...
King Hitter (in pub)
Ian Mune ...
Judge
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Storyline

Set in urban Auckland (New Zealand) this movie tells the story of the Heke family. Jake Heke is a violent man who beats his wife frequently when drunk, and yet obviously loves both her and his family. The movie follows a period of several weeks in the family's life showing Jake's frequent outburst of violence and the effect that this has on his family. The youngest son is in trouble with the police and may be put into a foster home while the elder son is about to join a street gang. Jake's daughter has her own serious problems which are a key element in the plot. Written by Chris Maslin <maslinc@cad.canterbury.ac.nz>  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Violence | Maori | New Zealand | Police | Gang  | See more »

Taglines:

A family in crisis, a life in chaos... Nothing is more powerful than a mother's love. See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language and strong depiction of domestic abuse, including sexual violence and substance abuse See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Official Sites:

FineLine | Add/edit official sites  »

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English | Maori | Spanish

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

A Alma dos Guerreiros See more »

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand See more »

Box Office

Gross:

$2,201,126 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby  | Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

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. See more »

Goofs

Continuity: When the scene of the guy singing karaoke in the bar right before Jake and Dooley walk in, the camera scans and you see an old guy among the people watching the singer and moving to the music, then you see the same old guy sitting at the bar when Jake and Dooley are discussing the guy who just beat up three other guys. He moved from one scene to the next within seconds. See more »

Quotes

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

Crazy Credits

Most of the opening credits are either split in half, scattered in
different areas of the screen, abnormally shaped or used in small white
print. Some are even mixed. See more »

Connections

Featured in "Getaway: Episode #16.35" (2007) See more »