IMDb > Once Were Warriors (1994)
Once Were Warriors
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Once Were Warriors (1994) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   16,972 votes »
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MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 30% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Lee Tamahori
Writers:
Riwia Brown
Alan Duff (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for Once Were Warriors on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 March 1995 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Crime | Drama See more »
Tagline:
Her only chance for the future is to embrace the power of her past. See more »
Plot:
A family descended from Maori warriors is bedeviled by a violent father and the societal problems of being treated as outcasts. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
19 wins & 2 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(35 articles)
Review: Taika Waititi's 'Boy' A Whimsical & Unique Coming-Of-Age Tale From New Zealand
 (From The Playlist. 3 March 2012, 6:29 AM, PST)
The Devil’s Double – DVD Review
 (From HeyUGuys. 23 December 2011, 3:00 AM, PST)
New Release: The Devil’s Double DVD and Blu-ray
 (From Disc Dish. 17 October 2011, 5:05 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Gut-wrenching See more (261 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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 V. Allen ... Jake's Mate (as Donald Allen)
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
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Directed by
Lee Tamahori 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Riwia Brown 
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
Andrea Curtis .... casting
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
Jim Garrow .... colorist: video mastering (uncredited)
 
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
Andy Wickens .... laboratory technician
Melissa Wikaire .... continuity
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R for pervasive language and strong depiction of domestic abuse, including sexual violence and substance abuse
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
102 min
Country:
New Zealand
Language:
English | Maori | Spanish
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby | Dolby SR
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 (Qualidade) | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:18 | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Auckland, New ZealandSee more »
Company:
Communicado ProductionsSee more »

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

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
35 out of 42 people found the following review useful.
Gut-wrenching, 5 December 2003
Author: TasTigger from Australia

This is one of the most powerful and realistic movies I have ever seen.

A true modern-day tragedy, this movie shows the negative aspects of one indigenous culture in today's society. This is a very important movie as it forces you to look at issues that some have to live with on a daily basis.

This movie literally left me feeling sick in the stomach. Particularly with the knowledge that there are families out there living through this. The performance by Temuera Morrison was incredible.

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (261 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Once Were Warriors (1994)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Other New Zealand movies? kleptomanie2009
Name of song sang in Maori, sang at house party? submerged99
Was this meant to have been Jake's redeeming feature? (*spoilers) viscount_bullingdon
New Zealand's best romantic comedy sumant28
Film 7 -S. Carrasco CHRIS KIM bhwpolo93
anyone else start bawling...(spoiler) guitarxgentlyxweeps
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