Once Were Warriors

Once Were Warriors

2DCS
Director:Lee Tamahori
Cast:Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis, Anita Kerr-Bell
Length:108 minutes
Genre:Drama

Director: Lee Tamahori  •  Scenario: Riwia Brown  •  Cast: Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis, Anita Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga, Taungaroa Emile

This 1994 feature film debut from New Zealand director Lee Tamahori heartbreakingly captures the hopeless circumstances of a Maori family which has been ripped from its cultural roots and now lives on the outskirts of Auckland. The film is a raw portrayal of poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence, which Beth, a mother of five children, is unsuccessfully trying to escape. It is only once tragedy strikes that she gains the power to break away from the man she once loved, a man who is destroying his family with his irresponsible behaviour and explosive rage. On release, the movie instantly became the international hit of the year, winning a number of prizes at leading international film festivals where it garnered praise in particular for the performances of its leading actors. The unprecedented success of this movie thrust the director onto the world stage among filmmaking greats.

Length: 108 min

Year: 1994

Country of origin:

  • New Zealand

Director: Lee Tamahori  •  Scenario: Riwia Brown  •  Cast: Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis, Anita Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga, Taungaroa Emile

This 1994 feature film debut from New Zealand director Lee Tamahori heartbreakingly captures the hopeless circumstances of a Maori family which has been ripped from its cultural roots and now lives on the outskirts of Auckland. The film is a raw portrayal of poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence, which Beth, a mother of five children, is unsuccessfully trying to escape. It is only once tragedy strikes that she gains the power to break away from the man she once loved, a man who is destroying his family with his irresponsible behaviour and explosive rage. On release, the movie instantly became the international hit of the year, winning a number of prizes at leading international film festivals where it garnered praise in particular for the performances of its leading actors. The unprecedented success of this movie thrust the director onto the world stage among filmmaking greats.

Year: 1994

Country of origin:

  • New Zealand