Utu Redux

In 1983, Geoff Murphy stormed out of the scrub of the recently reborn New Zealand film industry with an explosive take on the colonial epic. Set during the New Zealand Wars, this tale of a Māori leader (Anzac Wallace) and his bloody path to redress 'imbalance' was the second local feature invited to the Cannes Film Festival. It became one of Aotearoa's most successful local releases (after Murphy's Goodbye Pork Pie). A producer-driven recut later screened in North America. Driven by Utu cinematographer Graeme Cowley, the film was "enhanced and restored" in 2013. After the excerpt, a short video explores Utu's rebirth. 

I was excited and amazed by the restoration process. The work done by Weta Digital on bringing the picture back to life was spectacular. It now looks better than it did the day it was first shown. Park Road Post were no less brilliant in their re-mastering and enhancing of the soundtrack. It’s like a completely new experience — I am proud to have been associated with it.

– Director Geoff Murphy on the 2013 version of Utu, in a 27 June 2013 press release

Key Cast & Crew

Mike Hopkins

Sound Editor - Redux Version

Keith Aberdein

Writer

Graeme Cowley

Producer - Redux Version, Cinematographer

Anzac Wallace

As: Te Wheke

Bruno Lawrence

As: Williamson

Geoff Murphy

Director, Writer