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Utu
Film (Trailer and Excerpts) – 1983
It's the 1870s, and Māori leader Te Wheke (Anzac Wallace) is fed up by brutal land grabs. He leads a bloody rebellion against the colonial Government, provoking threatened frontiersmen, disgruntled natives, lusty wahine, bible-bashing priests, and kupapa alike to consider the nature of ‘utu’ (retribution). Legendary New Yorker critic Pauline Kael raved about Geoff Murphy’s ambitious follow up to Goodbye Pork Pie: "[He] has an instinct for popular entertainment ... The film has sweep, yet it's singularly unpretentious — irony is turned into slapstick."
For me it is blood for blood. Utu.– Matu (Merata Mita)
Key Cast & Crew
See all 42 credits
Produced by
Utu Productions
Acknowledgements
Made with funding from the NZ Film Commission
Presented with thanks to the New Zealand Film Heritage Trust – Te Puna Ataata
Music
Music composed by John Charles; performed by the NZ Symphony Orchestra, conducted by William Southgate
Waiatas by Jane and Paul Mareikura
Māori flute by Joe Malcolm
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Another Geoff Murphy period tale
Blerta Revisited
Directed by Geoff Murphy
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Feature film about contemporary Māori conflict
Little Things
Music video clip also featuring actor Wi Kuki Kaa
Tank Busters
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The New Zealand Wars
The history of Māori vs Pākehā conflict
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Actor Zac Wallace behind the scenes
Savage Play - Part Three
Another 19th century drama
Taua - War Party
More violent revenge in the bush
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Documentary that includes Tītokowaru’s rebellion
Never Say Die
Also directed by Geoff Murphy
Good for Nothing
Another Kiwi western
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Documentary about Māori tattooing
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Another film set during the New Zealand Wars
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Also directed by Geoff Murphy
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Features another notable mock trial
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More Māori warriors
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Actor Tim Eliott narrates this 60s documentary
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More alleged utu
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Geoff Murphy talks about casting Merata Mita in Utu
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A New Zealand 'western' directed by Jane Campion
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Geoff Murphy worked on this iconic film
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A pioneering movie based on Māori/Pākehā conflict