Once Were Warriors was an internationally successful film that honestly opened the eyes of cinema goers to an unexamined aspect of modern New Zealand life. Lee Tamahori's visceral and hard hitting depiction of gang and domestic violence amongst an urban Māori whānau was adapted from the best-selling Alan Duff novel by screenwriter Riwia Brown. Produced by Robin Scholes, the film provided career-defining roles for Temuera Morrison and Rena Owen as Jake the Mus and Beth Heke.
This is a brutal tale of an urban Māori whānau falling apart as patriarch Jake abuses his rage and Beth struggles to hold the family together in a South Auckland slum. The important film captured the attention of not only "shaken and silent" ...
"Where the fuck is everyone!" bellows Jake Heke aka Jake the Muss (Temuera Morrison) as he swaggers onto the screen and into the New Zealand consciousness, via Once Were ...
The adaptation of Alan Duff's book and the development of the screenplay for Once Were Warriors was one of the most challenging and yet creative times of my early writing career.
Following a chance meeting with ...
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Hi, is it rumour or truth that this movie was banned in the USA shortly after release?
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Communicado
Television, 2005 (Excerpts)
Featuring actor Taungaroa Emile and written by Riwia Brown
Available on DVD from ScreenLine and at Aro Video.
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Outstanding Website
The ONYAs 2010
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Qantas Media Awards 2009
NZ ON SCREEN 2010
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Lindsay Shelton
Posted at 03.17PM - 22.10.2009
The movie was never banned in the USA or anywhere else. It had a wide US theatrical release with enthusiastic reviews. Particular praise was given to the performances of Rena Owen and Temuera Morrison.