Once Were Warriors (1994)
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- R
- 1h 42min
- Crime, Drama
- 03 Mar 1995 (USA)
- Movie
A family descended from Maori warriors is bedeviled by a violent father and the societal problems of being treated as outcasts.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 22 wins & 7 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Rena Owen | ... |
Beth Heke
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| Temuera Morrison | ... |
Jake Heke
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| Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell | ... |
Grace Heke
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| Julian Arahanga | ... |
Nig Heke
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| Taungaroa Emile | ... |
Boogie Heke
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Rachael Morris Jr. | ... |
Polly Heke
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| Joseph Kairau | ... |
Huata Heke
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| Cliff Curtis | ... |
Bully
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| Pete Smith | ... |
Dooley
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| George Henare | ... |
Bennett
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| Mere Boynton | ... |
Mavis
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| Shannon Williams | ... |
Toot
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| Calvin Tuteao | ... |
Taka (Gang Leader)
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Ray Bishop | ... |
King Hitter (in pub)
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| Ian Mune | ... |
Judge
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Te Whatanui Skipwith | ... |
Te Tupaea
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Rangi Motu | ... |
Matawai
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| Robert Pollock | ... |
Policeman
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Jessica Wilcox | ... |
Policewoman
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| Stephen Hall | ... |
Prosecuting Officer
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| Wiki Oman | ... |
Youth Advocate
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Israel Williams | ... |
Male Youth #1
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Johnathan Wiremu | ... |
Male Youth #2
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Richard Meihana | ... |
Taunter in Court
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Edna Stirling | ... |
Woman #1
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Ngawai Simpson | ... |
Woman #2
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Spike Kem | ... |
Old Drunk
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Arona Rissetto | ... |
Nig's Friend
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Fran Viveaere | ... |
Nig's Girlfriend
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Brian Kairau | ... |
Joking Man Outside Pub (Jake's Mate)
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Charlie Tumahai | ... |
Karaoke Singer
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Tama Renata | ... |
Party Guitarist
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Guy Moana | ... |
Evicted Partygoer / Pub Goer
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Riwia Brown | ... |
Bully's Girl
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Mac Hona | ... |
Core Gang Member
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Percy Robinson | ... |
Core Gang Member
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Jason Kerapa | ... |
Core Gang Member
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Robbie Ngauma | ... |
Core Gang Member
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Eddie Tongalahi | ... |
Core Gang Member
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Sam Masters | ... |
Core Gang Member
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Chris Mason | ... |
Core Gang Member
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Marshall Kairau | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Joseph Te Whiu | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Jim Ngaata | ... |
Jake's Mate
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David Rare | ... |
Jake's Mate
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| Donald V. Allen | ... |
Jake's Mate
(as Donald Allen)
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Charles Marsh | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Winstone Bedgood | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Piki Mark | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Royal Waa | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Jack Grace | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Manuel Apiata | ... |
Jake's Mate
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George Tiopira | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Maru Nihoniho | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Jaye Cassidy | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Vivienne Wilson | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Hiraina Kume | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Thomasina Perana | ... |
Jake's Mate
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Directed by
| Lee Tamahori | ||
Written by
| Riwia Brown | ... | () |
| Alan Duff | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Andrew Mason | ... | producer |
| Robin Scholes | ... | producer |
Music by
| Murray Grindlay | ||
| Murray McNabb | ||
Cinematography by
| Stuart Dryburgh | ||
Editing by
| Michael Horton | ||
Editorial Department
| Lynne Reed | ... | color grader (as Lynne Seaman) |
| Chris Todd | ... | assistant to editor |
| Colin Tyler | ... | laboratory post-production liaison |
| Joe Fineman | ... | post-production consultant (uncredited) |
| Jim Garrow | ... | colorist: video mastering (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Don Selwyn | ||
Production Design by
| Michael Kane | ||
Art Direction by
| Shayne Radford | ||
Makeup Department
| Deirdre Cowley | ... | makeup assistant (as Deirdre Haworth) |
| Debra East | ... | makeup supervisor |
| 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 |
| Gary Mackay | ... | model maker |
| Janet McEwan | ... | merchandise/cutter |
| Brad Mill | ... | props buyer / 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 / sound recordist |
| Richard Morrison | ... | boom operator |
| John Neill | ... | sound manager / 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 |
Stunts
| Robert Bruce | ... | fight co-ordinator |
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 |
| Emma Walters | ... | casting assistant (as Ema Walters) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Pauline Bowkett | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Liz McGregor | ... | wardrobe runner (as Elizabeth McGregor) |
| Gavin McLean | ... | stand-by wardrobe |
| Leslie Pohatu | ... | wardrobe assistant |
Location Management
| Peta Sinclair | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Hirini Melbourne | ... | consultant: Maori music |
Script and Continuity Department
| Ross Jennings | ... | script development |
| Ian Mune | ... | script advisor |
| Melissa Wikaire | ... | continuity |
Additional 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 |
| Stephanie Jones | ... | described video script only |
| Tricia Lafferty | ... | production assistant |
| Setu Lio | ... | production runner |
| Reza Mokhtar | ... | catering assistant |
| Ted Morgan | ... | projectionist |
| Murray Newey | ... | consultant |
| Carol Paewai | ... | production coordinator |
| Alex Panagakis | ... | publicist |
| Adrienne Peke | ... | chaperone |
| Karen Soich | ... | legal advisor |
| Rachel Stace | ... | publicist |
| Kepa Sterling | ... | choreographer |
| Sue Thompson | ... | production executive |
| Judith Trye | ... | consultant |
| Mark Vette | ... | animal wrangler |
| Andy Wickens | ... | laboratory technician |
| Hughie Williams-Karaitiana | ... | Communications Technician |
| Vincent R. Nebrida | ... | marketing manager (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Communicado Productions
- New Zealand Film Commission
- Avalon/NFU
- New Zealand On Air
- Brouhaha Entertainment
- Fish Entertainment
Distributors
- Footprint Films (1994) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
- AFMD (1995) (France) (theatrical)
- Atalanta Filmes (1995) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Cinemussy (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Dendy Films (1994) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Entertainment Film Distributors (1995) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Fine Line Features (1995) (United States) (theatrical)
- Frenetic Films (1995) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- Kulturföreningen Kedjan (1995) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Mundial Films (1995) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Nea Kinisi (1995) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Senator Film (1995) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Triangelfilm (1995) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- BV Scandinavia (1995) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Eastern Epic Production Division (1995) (India) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Hoyts Home Video (1995) (Australia) (video)
- Malo Video (1995) (Canada) (VHS)
- BMG Video (1996) (Germany) (VHS)
- Entertainment in Video (1996) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Föreningen FilmCentrum (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)
- Nea Kinisi Video (1996) (Greece) (VHS)
- Sandrews (1996) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Triangelfilm (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)
- The Criterion Collection (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Universal Pictures (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Entertainment in Video (1999) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- H.O.M. Vision (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- New Line Home Video (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Sandrews (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Senator Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
- Seville Pictures (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
- Atlantic Film (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Homescreen (2008) (Belgium) (DVD)
- Homescreen (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Icon Home Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Film Movement Classics (2016) (United States)
- Film Movement (2016) (United States)
- La Rabbia (2019) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Les Bookmakers (2019) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2020) (United Arab Emirates) (Middle East, North Africa & Iran)
- ITVX (2023) (United Kingdom) (video) (VOD)
- Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)
- NITV (2024) (Australia) (tv)
Special Effects
- Temptu (tattoos)
Other Companies
- Creative Casting (casting)
- Jeremy Walker + Associates (publicity)
- Motion Picture Guarantors Ltd. (completion guarantor)
- The Film Vault (audio post-production)
- Tucker/Endeavour (consulting)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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 |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Their People Once Were Warriors. But Once...Was a Long Time Ago. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Temuera Morrison would get challenged to fight all the time by local thugs after seeing him play Jake Heke. See more » |
| Goofs | When Beth is being beaten by Jake at the start of the film she is thrown into a mirror which shatters completely. Later when the children are cleaning up the mess the mirror is back on the wall with only a few cracks. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Exotica/Heavyweights/The Wild Bunch/Once Were Warriors (1995). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Once Were Warriors (The Awakening) 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 » |
| Quotes |
Beth Heke:
Our people once were warriors. But unlike you, Jake, they were people with mana, pride; people with spirit. If my spirit can survive living with you for eighteen years, then I can survive anything. See more » |