Once Were Warriors

The reputation of the once respected native Maori people has fallen. The Maori used to be strong warriors. But, as Lee Tamahori explored in his film, Once Were Warriors, many urban Maori families live in slums, and struggle with poverty, alcoholism, drug addiction, and domestic violence. They also have lost many cultural ties to the ancient Maori people.

Once Were Warriors tells the story of the Heke family. The father, Jake, is unemployed for a majority of the movie, and as a result spends his days and nights drinking in a local pub with his friends. The men seek the unity found between the ancient Maori people by having parties together, either at the pub or later at the Heke’e home. Although he may come across as easygoing, after drinking his terrible temper comes out, and he physically attacks anyone who crosses him, including his wife. The divide between men and women is clear; the women are powerless against the men. Conflict is shown not only between men and women, but also between Maoris and Europeans. The judge who sends Boogie to a foster home and the police officers that pick him up are all white, and feel they are superior to the Maroi’s. This is seen when the two police officers bring Boogie home the day before his trial and Beth reacts very defensively to them.

Tamahori uses a very realistic style in his movie. The fame of New Zealand landscape is seen in this film the sink the images into the viewer’s mind. The pictures of the landscape where Beth grew up and where Grace was buried is representative of how good Beth’s life was before she married Jake. The contrast is apparent when one sees the dump that Beth, Jake and their five children live in presently. When Beth leaves Jake to return to the beautiful land she grew up in, her cultural roots, it is representative of the fact that their family is healing. Once Were Warriors is a powerful film showing the struggles of the Maori people in present day New Zealand.

-Marshall Anne Caswell