Once Were Warriors Movie Review 1994

Violent story of the struggling Maori Heke family, who have left their rural New Zealand roots to live in the city. Feisty mom Beth (Owen) is struggling with five kids and volatile hubby Jake (Heke), who's continuously out of work, boozing, and fighting. Eldest son Nig (Arahanga) has left home and joined a street gang and the rest of the kids hate Jake for beating up on their mother. They also fall victim to his temper and his habit of bringing his brawling, drunk buddies home-leading to further tragedy. Intense drama showcases great performances, with Owen honored as best actress at the Montreal World Film Festival. Based on the novel by Alan Duff. Feature-film directorial debut of Tamahori.

Distribution

New Line Home Video, 116 N. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, Phone: (310)854-5811, Fax: (310)854-1824, URL: http://www.newline.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS
Running time 102 minutes.
Originally from New Zealand.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Urban Drama, Family Drama, On the Rocks, Down Under

Screenplay

Riwia Brown

Cast

Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian (Sonny) Arahanga, Taungaroa Emile, Rachael Morris, Joseph Kairau, Pete Smith

Cinematography

Stuart Dryburgh

Director

Lee Tamahori

Music

Murray Grindlay, Murray McNabb

Producer

Robin Scholes, Communicado, New Zealand Film Commission

Awards

Australian Film Inst. 1995: Foreign Film; Montreal World Film Fest. 1994: Actress (Owen), Film.