Once Were Warriors (1994)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

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:

Maori | New Zealand | Gang | Violence | Suicide By Hanging

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
Te Whatanui Skipwith	...	Te Tupaea
Rangi Motu	...	Matawai
Robert Pollock	...	Policeman
Jessica Wilcox	...	Policewoman
Stephen Hall	...	Prosecuting Officer
Wiki Oman	...	Youth Advocate
Israel Williams	...	Male Youth #1
Johnathan Wiremu	...	Male Youth #2
Richard Meihana	...	Taunter in Court
Edna Stirling	...	Woman #1
Ngawai Simpson	...	Woman #2
Spike Kem	...	Old Drunk
Arona Rissetto	...	Nig's Friend
Fran Viveaere	...	Nig's Girlfriend
Brian Kairau	...	Joking Man Outside Pub (Jake's Mate)
Charlie Tumahai	...	Karaoke Singer
Tama Renata	...	Party Guitarist
Guy Moana	...	Evicted Partygoer / Pub Goer
Riwia Brown	...	Bully's Girl
Mac Hona	...	Core Gang Member
Percy Robinson	...	Core Gang Member
Jason Kerapa	...	Core Gang Member
Robbie Ngauma	...	Core Gang Member
Eddie Tongalahi	...	Core Gang Member
Sam Masters	...	Core Gang Member
Chris Mason	...	Core Gang Member
Marshall Kairau	...	Jake's Mate
Joseph Te Whiu	...	Jake's Mate
Jim Ngaata	...	Jake's Mate
David Rare	...	Jake's Mate
Donald Allen	...	Jake's Mate
Charles Marsh	...	Jake's Mate
Winstone Bedgood	...	Jake's Mate
Piki Mark	...	Jake's Mate
Royal Waa	...	Jake's Mate
Jack Grace	...	Jake's Mate
Manuel Apiata	...	Jake's Mate
George Tiopira	...	Jake's Mate
Maru Nihoniho	...	Jake's Mate
Jaye Cassidy	...	Jake's Mate
Vivienne Wilson	...	Jake's Mate
Hiraina Kume	...	Jake's Mate
Thomasina Perana	...	Jake's Mate

Directed by
Lee Tamahori

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Riwia Brown		writer
Alan Duff		novel

Produced by
Robin Scholes	....	producer

Original Music by
Murray Grindlay
Murray McNabb

Cinematography by
Stuart Dryburgh

Film Editing by
Michael Horton

Casting by
Don Selwyn

Production Design by
Michael Kane

Art Direction by
Shayne Radford

Makeup Department
Debra East	....	makeup supervisor
Deirdre Haworth	....	makeup assistant
Peter Underdown	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Neville How	....	unit manager
Janet McIver	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robin Murphy	....	second assistant director
Te Rangitawaea Reedy	....	third assistant director
Chris Short	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kerry Bos	....	carpenter
Rob Callaghan	....	art department assistant
James Dickson	....	art department assistant
Adam Evensen	....	art department assistant
Robert 'Wid' Gosne	....	painter
Chris Halligan	....	carpenter
Mike Harvey	....	construction manager
Carey Johnson	....	art department assistant
Janet McEwan	....	merchandise/cutter
Gary McKay	....	model maker
Brad Mill	....	props buyer
Brad Mill	....	stand-by props
Guy Moana	....	carvings and tattoo designer
Annette Patrick	....	stand-by painter
Chris Peacock	....	art department assistant
Inia Taylor	....	design assistant

Sound Department
Ray Beentjes	....	sound editor
John Boswell	....	assistant sound mixer
Annie Collins	....	dialogue supervisor
Emma Haughton	....	dialogue editor
Michael Hedges	....	sound mixer
Helen Luttrell	....	foley recordist
Graham Morris	....	production sound mixer
Graham Morris	....	sound recordist
Richard Morrison	....	boom operator
John Neill	....	sound manager
John Neill	....	sound
Don Paulin	....	sound editor
Kit Rollings	....	sound designer
Sally Stopforth	....	foley artist
Beth Tredray	....	foley artist
John Van Der Ryden	....	sound transfer

Special Effects by
Richard Taylor	....	prosthetics

Visual Effects by
Brian Scadden	....	opticals

Camera and Electrical Department
David Alac	....	lighting assistant
David 'Milky' Alec	....	lighting assistant
Lee Allison	....	clapper loader
Mark Archibald	....	best boy
Kerry Brown	....	still photographer
Rourke Crawford-Flett	....	grip assistant
Richard Evans	....	gaffer
Brian Harris	....	key grip
Henare Mato	....	lighting assistant
Dean Maxted	....	grip assistant
Cameron McLean	....	focus puller
Tony Pikari	....	lighting assistant
Paul Samuels	....	video split operator
Reiner Schoenbrum	....	camera operator: rostrum camera
Ann Shelton	....	additional still photographer

Casting Department
Rivia Brown	....	casting: Wellington
Ema Walters	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Pauline Bowkett	....	wardrobe supervisor
Liz McGregor	....	wardrobe runner (as Elizabeth McGregor)
Gavin McLean	....	stand-by wardrobe
Leslie Pohatu	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Joe Fineman	....	post-production consultant
Lynne Seaman	....	color grader
Chris Todd	....	assistant to editor
Colin Tyler	....	laboratory post-production liaison

Music Department
Hirini Melbourne	....	consultant: Maori music

Other crew
John Barnett	....	consultant
Gavin Bradley	....	titles
Rivia Brown	....	assistant to director
Tom Burstall	....	risk manager
Grant Campbell	....	laboratory liaison
Neil Crichton	....	projectionist
Toby Curtis	....	consultant
Jane Denton	....	production secretary
Te Ari Heta	....	security officer
Ian Hunter	....	cat wrangler
Ross Jennings	....	script development
Tricia Lafferty	....	production assistant
Setu Lio	....	production runner
Reza Mokhtar	....	catering assistant
Ted Morgan	....	projectionist
Ian Mune	....	script advisor
Murray Newey	....	consultant
Carol Paewai	....	production coordinator
Adrienne Peke	....	chaperone
Peta Sinclair	....	location manager
Karen Soich	....	legal advisor
Rachel Stace	....	publicist
Kepa Sterling	....	choreographer
Sue Thompson	....	production executive
Judtih Trye	....	consultant
Mark Vette	....	animal wrangler
Melissa Wikaire	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Communicado Productions
• New Zealand Film Commission
• New Zealand On Air

Distributors

• Footprint Films (1994) (Australia) (theatrical)
• AFMD (1995) (France) (theatrical)
• Atalanta Filmes (1995) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Cinemussy (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Entertainment (1995) (UK) (theatrical)
• Fine Line Features (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (1995) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Mundial Films (1995) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (1995) (Germany) (theatrical)
• BMG Video (1996) (Germany) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (199?) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Entertainment in Video (1996) (UK) (VHS)
• Entertainment in Video (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)
• H.O.M. Vision (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2008) (Belgium) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Senator Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Temptu (tattoos)

Other Companies

• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity
• Motion Picture Guarantors Ltd.  completion guarantor
• The Film Vault  audio post-production
• Tucker/Endeavour  consulting

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

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) | 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: Blood disappears and reappears on Beth's chin.

Quotes:

Mavis: You know the rules - keep your mouth shut and your legs open!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Die Another Day: From Script to Screen (2002) (V)

A great film

"Once Were Warriors" tells of one woman's struggle to free herself and her family from the fist of abuse, the grip of oppression, and the slow assassination of self esteem at the hands of an alcoholic husband. This film's story of a Maori (indigenous New Zealanders) underclass family shows the male turning to violence and self destruction to vent frustration with his plight while the female draws strength from her cultural heritage in an attempt to save her children and restore their dignity. Gripping, intense, and powerful, "Once Were Warriors" is a critically acclaimed must see for anyone into serious human drama. (A)