Winners & Losers: Big Brother, Little Sister
1976 26m Television
- Drama
- Māori
- Captioned
Almost two decades before Once Were Warriors, another drama about urban Māori under pressure stirred controversy. Hema (Dale Williams) and Janey (Julie Wehipeihana) are two kids adrift in the city, trying to escape a broken home. Screen historian Trisha Dunleavy found this "the most powerful and controversial" edition of the Winners & Losers series; it was TV's first drama about "the alienation of Māori in a contemporary urban setting". Based on a Witi Ihimaera story, it also marked the first solo directing credit for Ian Mune. He later directed the sequel to Once Were Warriors.
Key Cast & Crew
Related images
Roger Donaldson during the filming of 1976 series Winners and Losers.
Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Courtesy of Roger Donaldson Collection
Hema (Dale Wiliams) and Janey (Julie Wehipeihana) at the railway station, in Winners & Losers episode Big Brother, Little Sister.
Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Courtesy of Roger Donaldson Collection
A behind the scenes photo taken in Auckland during the filming of Big Brother, Little Sister (part of 1976 series Winners & Losers). Cinematographer Roger Donaldson is in white trousers at the far left of frame.
Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Unknown donor
The stars of Big Brother, Little Sister: Dale Williams (as Hema) and Julie Wehipeihana (as Janey).
Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Unknown donor
