''Waru'' is a 2017 New Zealand
semi-anthology drama film about the ''
tangi'' (funeral) of a small boy named Waru who dies at the hands of his caregiver, and how the boy's death impacts the community. After featuring at the
New Zealand International Film Festival and
Toronto International Film Festival in 2017, it received a general release in New Zealand in October 2017.
It has since featured in a number of other film festivals.
Plot Summary
The film spans eight stories, each starting at 9:59 the morning of the ''tangi''.
''Charm''
Aunty Charm directs the food preparation for the funeral at the ''kāuta'' (kitchen) in the local ''
marae''.
''Anahera''
Waru's kindergarten teacher, Anahera, processes the loss with her class and colleagues.
''Mihi''
Single mother Mihi struggles to care for her kids with no money for gas or food.
''Em''
Young singer Em comes home from a raucous night out to find she is locked out of her house, and her baby is inside.
''Ranui''
Two great-grandmothers of Waru, Ranui and Hinga, argue over where his body should rest so that his ''wairua'' (spirit) is at peace.
''Kiritapu''
Anchorwoman Kiritapu endures microaggressions and overt racism alike while her colleagues discuss the murder of Waru.
''Mere''
Young teen Mere, armed with a ''
tokotoko
A tokotoko is a traditional Māori carved ceremonial walking stick. On a marae it is a symbol of authority and status for the speaker holding it.
Poets from New Zealand who win the award of New Zealand Poet Laureate are presented with a tokotoko, ...
'', plucks up the courage to talk back to her abuser.
''Titty & Bash ''
Two sisters, Titty and Bash, drive to reclaim Bash's children from an abusive household.
Cast
*
Tanea Heke as Aunty Charm
*
Roimata Fox as Anahera
*
Ngapaki Moetara as Mihi
*
Awhina-Rose Ashby as Em
*
Kararaina Rangihau as Ranui
*
Merehaka Maaka as Hinga
*
Maria Walker
Maria may refer to:
People
* Mary, mother of Jesus
* Maria (given name), a popular given name in many languages
Place names Extraterrestrial
*170 Maria, a Main belt S-type asteroid discovered in 1877
* Lunar maria (plural of ''mare''), large, ...
as Kiritapu
*
Acacia Hapi
''Acacia'', commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa and Australasia. The genus nam ...
as Mere
*
Amber Curreen
Amber Curreen (born ) is an actor and theatre producer based in Auckland, New Zealand. She played character Shannon Te Ngaru on ''Shortland Street''. She is a producer with Auckland theatre companies Te Rēhia Theatre Company and Te Pou Theatr ...
as "Titty" (short for ''Whatitiri'' or "thunder" in Māori)
*
Miriama McDowell
Miriama McDowell is a New Zealand actor, director and playwright. She is a graduate of Toi Whakaari.
McDowell has a long association with Massive Theatre Company in Auckland, and has both acted and directed for the Pop-up Globe, including direc ...
as "Bash" (a nickname derived from ''Uira'' or "lightning" in Māori)
[
]
Production
The film consists of eight 10-minute long takes, each written and directed by nine Māori women. The producers issued a challenge to the film-makers: Each story had to have a female lead, begin at 9:59am, and be shot in one day, using one continuous take.[ NZ On Air and New Zealand Film Commission funding was obtained in 2015.][
]
References
External links
*
* {{rottentomatoes, Waru
2017 films
New Zealand drama films
Māori-language films
Films shot in New Zealand
Films by indigenous directors
Films about Māori people
2010s New Zealand films