Once Were Warriors Review: A Powerful Tale of Struggling Maori Family by Rena Owen
Once Were Warriors is an iconic New Zealand drama that has earned its place as a cult classic. Directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, and Cliff Curtis, this film tells the tale of a dysfunctional Maori family struggling to survive in a society that has left them behind. From the opening scene, you’re drawn into the gritty, passionate world of the Hekes, and you can’t help but root for them.
The cinematography is stunning—the scenes of Auckland’s urban landscape are beautiful and haunting. The score is equally powerful—it captures the mood of each scene perfectly and adds an extra layer of emotion to the story. And then there are the performances. Rena Owen is electrifying as Beth Heke—her scenes with Temuera Morrison (as her husband Jake) are some of the most intense moments in cinema history.
If you’re looking for an emotionally powerful story about family and resilience in the face of adversity, Once Were Warriors is a must-watch. It’s one of those movies that will stay with you long after the credits roll, and it deserves all the praise it has rightly received over the years.