The Speaker

A graffiti artist (Ropata Matthews) gets sprung by the cops while tagging. But his younger brother ends up being the fall guy and at the receiving end of long arm of the law. The hero heads into the Tamaki night, and with spray can and marker signs his views on politics (including on one of the infamous Iwi/Kiwi billboards from the 2005 National Party campaign). Ultimately he’ll need more than words to repay his brother. Co-written with Savage, the film was the first dramatic short directed by actor Tearepa Kahi (Mt Zion). It was invited to play at the Berlin and Clermont-Ferrand Film Festivals.

A top effort from a young director we are likely to see much more from.

– The Lumiere Reader review of The Speaker by Jacob Powell

Key Cast & Crew

Tearepa Kahi

Director, Writer, Producer

Quinton Hita

Producer

Savage

Writer, Producer

Mama Tere

As: Keisha

Michael V Cassin

As: Tax Collector

Tuiti Rapan

As: Pera