Once Were Warriors (1994) | Brutal Māori Family Drama | VHSSB
transcript
show notes
Chosen by Dylan, Once Were Warriors was adapted from Alan Duff’s bestselling 1990 novel by screenwriter Riwia Brown. Made for approximately NZ$2 million and filmed over a demanding six-week shoot, it marked the feature-directing debut of Lee Tamahori. Much of the production took place around Ōtara in South Auckland, grounding the film’s urban Māori setting in real locations rather than a carefully polished studio version of New Zealand. Rena Owen and Temuera Morrison lead the cast as Beth and Jake Heke, supported by Julian Arahanga, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Taungaroa Emile and Cliff Curtis.
The film became a major domestic success, earning approximately NZ$6.7 million and setting a new record at the New Zealand box office. It swept nine categories at the 1994 New Zealand Film Awards and collected further honours at festivals including Montreal, Durban, Venice and Rotterdam. Its international acclaim launched Tamahori towards Hollywood and helped raise the global profiles of Owen, Morrison and Curtis. More than three decades later, it remains one of New Zealand cinema’s most influential, confronting and difficult-to-forget films. Definitely not one to throw on when the family asks for “something light.”
TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSIS
In the streets of South Auckland… one family is fighting a war that nobody outside their home can see.
Beth Heke dreams of holding her family together. But her husband Jake is a man of charm, pride and explosive rage—and when the drinking starts, their home becomes a battleground.
As their children search for belonging in gangs, institutions and the traditions of their ancestors, Beth must rediscover the strength of the people she came from. This time… being a warrior means knowing what is worth fighting for.
FUN FACTS
Once Were Warriors opened in only four New Zealand cinemas, yet still earned a record-breaking NZ$114,000 during its opening run.
The house used as the Heke family home was a real state house on O’Connor Street in Ōtara.
Local residents reportedly complained about the noise generated while the production filmed the Hekes’ late-night parties.
Producer Robin Scholes had previously worked mainly in television; this became the first feature released by Communicado Productions.
Stuart Dryburgh’s cinematography helped him build an international career that later included The Piano, The Painted Veil and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Temuera Morrison later became internationally recognised as Jango Fett and the clone troopers in the Star Wars franchise.
Rena Owen also joined the Star Wars universe, appearing in Attack of the Clones and providing additional voices for the film.
Cliff Curtis has portrayed characters from numerous ethnic backgrounds throughout his career, but Once Were Warriors gave him one of his earliest major New Zealand film roles.
A sequel, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, arrived in 1999, with Morrison and several other cast members returning.
A twentieth-anniversary documentary, Once Were the Cast of Warriors, reunited members of the cast in 2014 to examine the film’s impact and what happened after its release.
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