Once Were Warriors
Amidst the mean streets of Auckland, Beth Heke (Rena Owen) lives with her husband Jake (Temuera Morrison) and their three children in a tenement house for native Maori. Jake’s battle with alcoholism frequently results in terrifyingly violent outbursts, but Beth’s unwavering devotion prevents her from seeing how much his rage is destroying their family until it is nearly too late.
Winner of nine New Zealand Film Awards, this groundbreaking adaptation of Alan Duff’s hard-hitting novel set local box office records and launched the international career of director Lee Tamahori.
Cast
- Rena Owen
- Temuera Morrison
- Cliff Curtis
DVD Features
Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
New Essay by Peter Calder
Sound: Stereo 2.0 and 5.1 Surround Sound
Discs: 1
Blu-ray Features
Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
New Essay by Peter Calder
Sound: Stereo 2.0 and 5.1 Surround Sound
Discs: 1
- "It is powerful and chilling, and directed by Lee Tamahori with such narrative momentum that we are swept along in the enveloping tragedy of the family's life."
- "A gut-grabber from New Zealand...that stays with you for days."
- "The actors...deliver authoritative yet sympathetic performances that get at the roots, or rootlessness, of their characters."
Awards & Recognition
Best Foreign Film
Australian Film Institute
Best Film
New Zealand Film and TV Awards
Audience Award
Rotterdamn Int'l Film Festival
Critics' Award
Fantasporto Film Festival
Best Actress
Fantasporto FIlm Festival
Special Jury Prize
Hawaii Int'l Film Festival
Grand Prix des Ameriques
Montreal World Film Festival
Best Actress
Montreal World Film Festival
People's Choice Award
Montreal World Film Festival
Bruce C Corwin Award
Santa Barbara Int'l Film Festival
Toronto Int'l Film Festival
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
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