Once Were Warriors
A family in crisis, a life in chaos... Nothing is more powerful than a mother's love.
A drama about a Maori family living in Auckland, New Zealand. Lee Tamahori tells the story of Beth Heke’s strong will to keep her family together during times of unemployment and abuse from her violent and alcoholic husband.
- 7.4
- 1994
- Released
- 1h 39m
Rena Owen
Beth Heke
Temuera Morrison
Jake Heke
Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell
Grace Heke
Julian Arahanga
Nig Heke
Taungaroa Emile
Mark 'Boogie' Heke
Rachael Morris Jr.
Polly Heke
Joseph Kairau
Huata Heke
Cliff Curtis
Bully
Pete Smith
Dooley
George Henare
Bennett
Mere Boynton
Mavis
Shannon Williams
Toot
Calvin Tuteao
Taka
Ray Bishop
King Hitter
Ian Mune
Judge
Robert Pollock
Policeman
Donald V. Allen
Jake's Mate (as Donald Allen)
Released
en
$950,000.00
$6,700,000.00
- #individual
- #suicide
- #rape
- #strong woman
- #tattoo
- #slum
- #funeral
- #alcohol
- #tradition
- #approved school
- #loss of loved one
- #despair
- #indigenous
- #ghetto
- #violent husband
- #new zealand
- #maori
- #lack of prospects
- #maori tradition
- #teacher
- #youth gang
- #crush
- #domestic violence
- #rebellious youth
- #alcohol abuse
- #incest
- #unemployment
- #auckland
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Reviews
**The power and importance of cultural roots.** This was the first New Zealand film I saw, at least as far as I remember and am aware of that. It's a violent film, with a raw brutality that shocks us by how authentic it sounds. Domestic violence? Child rape? It's not something you only see in the movies. It's something you see in a newspaper. That's what shocks us the most: knowing it's somethi