Utu Redux

In 1983 director Geoff Murphy stormed out of the scrub of the recently reborn New Zealand film industry with a quadruple-barreled shotgun take on the great Kiwi 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 film to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival. It was also the second biggest local hit to date (after Murphy's Goodbye Pork Pie). A producer-driven recut later screened in North America. This 2013 redux version is "enhanced and restored". 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

Key Cast & Crew

Anzac Wallace

As: Te Wheke

Bruno Lawrence

As: Williamson

Graeme Cowley

Producer - Redux Version, Cinematographer

Keith Aberdein

Writer

Kelly Johnson

As: Lieutenant Scott

Geoff Murphy

Director, Writer