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It's the 1870s, and charismatic Māori leader Te Wheke is fed up by brutal land grabs. He takes up arms and leads a bloody rebellion against the colonial NZ Government. In the process he provokes everyone affected by his actions — threatened frontiersmen, disgruntled natives, lusty wahine, bible-bashing priests, and kupapa amongst them — to consider the nature and meaning of ‘utu’ (retribution). Geoff Murphy’s ambitious, energetic film takes the shotgun approach in its attempt to be the great New Zealand (colonial) epic.
If there was a renaissance, or ‘new wave' of NZ film making, then Geoff Murphy was riding it, and ride it he did, tall in the saddle with this vastly ambitious, but sometimes vexing ...
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hi ferozmin ali, look up the story of ' Te Kooti, te whai o te motu', Te Kooti , the 'hunt/chase/search of the island. You will see where he gets his ideas.
I just wanted to ask for the movie Utu where did Keith Aberdeins ideas come from to write a film like that?
Utu Productions
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Film, 1981 (Trailer, Excerpts, and Extras)
Also written and directed by Geoff Murphy
Television, 1976 (Full Length Episode)
TV drama written by Keith Aberdein
Television, 1987 (Full Length)
Utu features in this survey of NZ film
1983 Cannes Film Festival
Selected for official out of competition section
Finalist - Most
Outstanding Website
The ONYAs 2010 & 2011
Best Entertainment Website
Finalist – Website design
Qantas Media Awards 2009
NZ ON SCREEN 2012
This website has been made with funding from NZ ON AIR ›
The synopsis and credits are included
Rangi Carroll
Posted at 10.59PM - 26.01.2011
I'm sure this is the film with the waterfall scene where the girls dives over and the guy follows her. Like a 90 ft water fall. But it's never bought up. Curious because its one of films greatest moments.