''Kawa'' is a 2010

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

film directed by Katie Wolfe originally titled ''Nights in the Gardens of Spain''. The film stars

Calvin Tuteao Calvin Tuteao is a New Zealand actor who has appeared in '' Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'', '' Once Were Warriors'' and '' Xena: Warrior Princess''. Tuteao is renowned for his role on '' Shortland Street'' as Dr. Victor Kahu. He and his niece ...

as Kawariki. A coming out film drama, it is based on the novel ''Nights in the Gardens of Spain'' by

Witi Ihimaera Witi Tame Ihimaera-Smiler (; born 7 February 1944) is a New Zealand author. Raised in the small town of Waituhi, he decided to become a writer as a teenager after being convinced that Māori people were ignored or mischaracterised in literat ...

Plot

The film tells the story of Kawariki (

), an apparently happy family man married to Annabelle (

Nathalie Boltt Nathalie Boltt (born 19 July 1973) is a South African actress, director and writer known for ''Riverdale'' and ''District 9''. Her initial break into acting was in her birth country, South Africa, as Joey Ortlepp on the SABC 3 drama ''Isidingo' ...

). His father, Hamiora (

George Henare George Winiata Henare (born 11 September 1945) is a New Zealand actor with a career spanning over 50 years. Early life Born in Gisborne on 11 September 1945, the third youngest in a family of ten children, Henare affiliates to the Māori trib ...

), is retiring and according to Maori tradition, Kawariki should be prepared to take over his father's place as head of the family. However, he realizes that to do so, he must keep his integrity and reveal his lifelong secret of being

gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...

ever since childhood. He has been desperately fighting his feelings for years, but he now frequents gay baths and he has a love affair with Chris (

Dean O'Gorman Dean Lance O'Gorman (born 1 December 1976) is a New Zealand actor, artist, and photographer. He played the dwarf Fíli in the ''Hobbit'' trilogy and the Norse God Bragi/Anders Johnson in the fantasy series ''The Almighty Johnsons''. He also por ...

). Things get more complicated and acquire more urgency when his mother, Grace ( Vicky Haughton), discovers him kissing Chris on the beach after a fight between the two and decides to expel him from her house. When he finally comes out to his father and his wife, it is too late for Chris, who has moved in with another partner after waiting for so long for him. Kawa has to quit home but is torn with his love for his son, Sebastian (

Pana Hema Taylor Pana Hema Taylor (born 1989) is a New Zealand television actor, best known for his roles in ''Spartacus'', '' The Brokenwood Mysteries'' and '' Westside''. Early life Pana Hema Taylor grew up in the town of Wairoa, where he became involved with ...

), and his daughter, Miranda ( Miriama-Jane Devantier). Meanwhile, his daughter's absolute attachment to him is the catalyst for the family coming back together. The film ends with a scene in which Kawa's father is reconciled with himself and visits his son at his new residence to deliver him the traditional Maori emblem.

Accolades

During the 2011 New Zealand Film and TV Awards,

was nominated for the award for "Best Performance by a Supporting Actor" for his role as Chris in the film.

Cast

as Kawariki *

as Annabelle *

as Hamiora * Vicky Haughton as Grace *

as Chris *

as Sebastian * Miriama-Jane Devantier as Miranda * Geoffrey Snell as Walter *

Jarod Rawiri Jarod is an alternative form of Jared and other variants like Jarred, Jarrad, Jarad, Jarid, Jarrid, Jareth, Jay, Jered, Jerad, Jerrad, Jarrod, Jerid, Jerrid, Jerrod, Jerred, and Jerod. Jarod may refer to: Places * Jarod, Gujarat, a village in Va ...

as Wayne * Jack Walley as Coach * Bridget Pyc as Emily

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 1754277 2010 films 2010s New Zealand films New Zealand LGBT-related films Films based on New Zealand novels Māori-language films New Zealand drama films Films about Māori people LGBT-related drama films 2010 drama films 2010 LGBT-related films