Waru

New Zealand 2017, 86 minutes
Dir. Briar Grace-Smith, Casey Kaa, Ainsley Gardiner, Katie Wolfe, Renae Maihi, Chelsea Cohen, Paula Jones, Awanui Simich-Pene
In English, Te Reo with English subtitles
Rating: [M] Violence, offensive language, sex scenes & content that may disturb.
Genres: Drama / Girl-centric

Topics: Indigenous & Minority Cultures, Shorts.

Feat. Miriama McDowell, Tanea Heke, Kararaina Rangihau, Roimata Fox, Ngapaki Moetara, Acacia Hapi, Maria Walker, Amber Curreen, Awhina-Rose Ashby

“Stands a sturdy testament to the way film can generate resonant art from difficult subject matter. All New Zealanders should see it.”~Dominic Corry, N.Z. Herald

Aroview: An outstanding and confronting film exploring the subject of domestic child abuse in New Zealand.

Eight female Maori directors have each contributed a ten minute vignette, presented as a continuous shot in real time, that unfolds around the tangi (funeral) of a small boy (Waru) who died at the hands of his caregiver. The vignettes are all subtly interlinked and each follow one of eight female Maori lead characters during the same moment in time as they (either directly or thematically) come to terms with Waru's death and try to find a way forward. In Maori, waru means eight.

NZ International Film Festival 2017

Member Reviews

Average rating (Very Good). Showing 1-2 of 2 member reviews.

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5 stars (Exceptional) The acting is variable, and one chapter is all too on-the-nose, but overall this is a remarkable achievement made with love and bravery. It hit me deeper and haunted me longer than anything else I saw in 2017. Don't miss it. ~fairbrother
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3 stars (Good Enough) Not unusual with this kind of format the quality differs from segment to segment but the better ones make it worthwhile. ~Tubbs