Once Were Warriors

Sep 2, 1994

1h 39m

★ 7.4

A family in crisis, a life in chaos... Nothing is more powerful than a mother's love.

Overview

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.

Genres

Drama

Production Companies

Avalon Studios

New Zealand Film Commission

NZ on Air

Fish Entertainment

Once Were Warriors Trailers

Cast

Beth Heke

Rena Owen

Jake Heke

Temuera Morrison

Grace Heke

Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell

Nig Heke

Julian Arahanga

Mark 'Boogie' Heke

Taungaroa Emile

Polly Heke

Rachael Morris Jr.

Huata Heke

Joseph Kairau

Bully

Cliff Curtis

Dooley

Pete Smith

Bennett

George Henare

Mavis

Mere Boynton

Toot

Shannon Williams

Many loosely connected characters cross paths in this film, based on the stories of Raymond Carver. Waitress Doreen Piggot accidentally runs into a boy with her car. Soon after walking away, the child lapses into a coma. While at the hospital, the boy's grandfather tells his son, Howard, about his past affairs. Meanwhile, a baker starts harassing the family when they fail to pick up the boy's birthday cake.

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