''Rain of the Children'' is a 2008 feature film written, directed and produced by Vincent Ward. It stars

Rena Owen Renas may refer to: Places *Rena, Badajoz, a municipality in Extremadura, Spain *Rena, Norway, a village in Innlandet county, Norway *Rena, Washington, a community in Clallam County, Washington, United States People *Rena (given name), list of pe ...

and

Temuera Morrison Temuera Derek Morrison (born 26 December 1960) is a New Zealand actor and Singer who first gained recognition for his role as Dr. Hone Ropata on the soap opera ''Shortland Street''. He gained critical acclaim for his starring role as Jake "The ...

. In ''Rain of the Children'', Ward further explores the subject of his earlier film, '' In Spring One Plants Alone'' when, as a young film student he travelled to the Ureweras and documented the lives of an elderly

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

woman (Puhi) and her schizophrenic son (Niki).

Cast

, star of ''

Once Were Warriors ''Once Were Warriors'' is New Zealand author Alan Duff's bestselling first novel, published in 1990. It tells the story of an urban Māori family, the Hekes, and portrays the reality of domestic violence in New Zealand. It was the basis of a 199 ...

'' features as Puhi Tatu. Miriama Rangi, Mikaira Tawhara Harmony Wihapi and Melody Wihapi all play Puhi at different stages of her life, along with other Tuhoe actresses. *

from '' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'' and ''

'' plays the prophet

Rua Kenana Rua Kenana Hepetipa or Rua Kēnana Hepetipa (1869 – 20 February 1937) was a Māori people, Māori prophet, faith healer and land rights activist. He called himself Te Mihaia Hou, the New Messiah, and claimed to be Te Kooti, Te Kooti Arikirang ...

, to whose community in Maungapohatu Puhi belonged as an adolescent. * Waihoroi Shortland plays the part of Puhi's adult son Niki. * Other featured cast include Taungaroa Emile, Mahue Tawa, Mikira Jenkem, Katarina Nohopai Tangiwai, Kimikimi Mane and Ray Pomare. * Many Tuhoe descendants played parts, recreating scenes their ancestors had experienced. * Key Tuhoe elders and historians are interviewed in the film. * Vincent Ward plays himself in the film.

Production

''Rain of The Children'' was filmed on location in Tuhoe country in the Urewera ranges in New Zealand. The production returned to the places Puhi had lived and the sacred mountain, Maungapohatu, where traces of Rua's community still remain.

Release

''Rain of The Children'' world premiere was at the Sydney Film Festival (In Competition) on 7 June 2008. Voted by the audience from 250 feature films, ''Rain of the Children'' won the Grand Prix at

Era New Horizons Film Festival New Horizons Film Festival (previously: Era New Horizons; pl: Nowe Horyzonty) is an international film festival held annually in July in Wrocław, Poland. It has been organised since 2001. It is one of the biggest and most popular film festivals ...

—a major international film festival in Poland. The film was also nominated for best director and won best composer at the Qantas Film and TV Awards in New Zealand. Vincent Ward was also nominated for best director at the Australian Directors Guild Awards. The film was nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

External links

*
''Rain of the Children'' at Vincent Ward Films
*Sydney Film Festiva

*New Zealand International Film Festiva

*Review in The Hollywood Reporte

2008 films New Zealand drama films Films directed by Vincent Ward Films shot in New Zealand Films about Māori people 2000s English-language films 2000s New Zealand films {{NewZealand-film-stub