''Ngati'' is a 1987

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 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...

feature film directed by

Barry Barclay Barry Ronald Barclay, MNZM (12 May 1944 – 19 February 2008) was a New Zealand filmmaker and writer of Māori (Ngāti Apa) and Pākehā (European) descent. Background Barclay was born in Masterton and raised on farms in the Wairarapa. He was edu ...

, written by

Tama Poata Tama may mean: Languages * Tama language, the language of the Sudanese Tama people * Tama languages, a language family of northern Papua New Guinea Music * Tama Drums, a Japanese brand manufactured by Hoshino Gakki * Tama (percussion), a typ ...

and produced by

John O'Shea John Francis O'Shea (; born 30 April 1981) is an Irish professional football coach and former player. He was known for his versatility in playing several positions on either side of the pitch or the centre. Born in Waterford, O'Shea joined ...

Production

''Ngati'' is of historical and cultural significance in New Zealand as it is the first feature film written and directed by Māori. Producer John O'Shea, an icon in New Zealand's film industry, was the founder of independent film company

Pacific Films Pacific Films is a film production company in New Zealand. It is not to be confused with other companies with the name, including the film company in Hawaii that produced Phantom Below''. History The Pacific Film Unit was established in Wellin ...

. The film is set in 1948 in a small town on the east coast of New Zealand during the impending closure of a freezing works and the threat of unemployment for the local community. ''Ngati'' was screened as part of Cannes' Critics Week.

Synopsis

Set in and around the fictional town of Kapua in 1948, Ngati is the story of a Māori community. The film comprises three narrative threads: a boy, Ropata, is dying of leukaemia; the return of a young Australian doctor, Greg, and his discovery that he has Māori heritage; and the fight to keep the local freezing works open. Unique in tone and quietly powerful in its storytelling, Ngati was Barry Barclay's first dramatic feature and the first feature to be written and directed by Māori. Ngati screened in Critics' Week at Cannes.

Cast

The film features veteran stage and screen actor

Wi Kuki Kaa Wi Kuki Kaa (16 December 1938 – 19 February 2006) was a New Zealand actor in film, theatre and television. He was from the Māori iwi of Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu. Family Kaa was born in Rangitukia on New Zealand's East Cape. His fat ...

in the lead role of 'Iwi'.

Awards

* Best Film, Taormina Film Festival, Italy * Best Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Male Actor (Wi Kuki Kaa): 1988 New Zealand Listener Film & Television Awards

References

External links

Watch Ngati movie clip at NZ On ScreenOfficial NZ Government Film website
*
Interview with director Barry Barclay on Youtube
New Zealand drama films Films set in New Zealand 1987 drama films 1980s New Zealand films Māori-language films Films set in 1948 1987 films Films about Māori people {{NewZealand-film-stub