Photographing Aotearoa (New Zealand) in the Big Screen
Few films capture the raw beauty and cultural depth of Aoteroa (New Zealand) like The dead Lands. This 2014 action-drama is a cinematic celebration of Māori culture and was directed and produced by Toa Fraser and Matthew Metcalfe, respectively. Stunningly, the entire film is in the Māori language and features James Rolleston as Hongi and Lawrence Makoare as the enigmatic Warrior.
Indeed, this is so much more than a revenge story. It is a tale with rich themes of honour, survival, and the undying spirit of the Māori people and their claims, set amid the breathtaking and unforgiving landscapes of Aotearoa.
A story of vengeance Achieving Legacy
At it’s core, Hongi, who is son to a chief teenage embarks on a perilous avenging journey is the leading theme. Betrayed, and in a pretended peace by Wirepa, Hongi is left alone after his tribe is mercilessly slaughtered by the Wirepa tribesmen, and now, left with the heavy daunting burden of restoring his tribe’s honour.
Hongi’s trajectory leads into the dreaded Dead Lands where revengeful spirits lie and where the greatest warrior who ever lived on Earth, played with gravitas by Lawrence Makoare, protects the land. Hongi presses forward not only seeking vengeance, but wanting to redeem his lost tribe, all this while ignoring the warnings.
As the movie progresses, the relationship between Hongi and the Warrior shifts into focus, as the aged Burke takes on the reluctant role of a mentor where he teaches the young boy how to navigate the brutal world they reside in. With their new relationship, their pursuit of Wirepa becomes emotional, which leads into the confrontation that Hongi must face with everything he holds dear such as his enemies, ideals, and the concept of honor.
Production: A Love Letter to The Māori Through Film.
In order to recreate The Dead Lands, director Toa Fraser and screenwriter Glenn Standring collaborated with many Māori historians and cultural advisors, increases their dedication to the authenticity in the depiction of the customs, language, and martial tradition of the Maori culture. With the picturesque, awe-inspiring wilderness of New Zealand in the background, the film was shot by cinematographer Leon Narbey. The filming encompassed tall cliffs, thick forests, and free flowing rivers which did not only provide the scenery, but, served as a character themselves.
What sets the film apart is its representation of mau rākau, the fighting style of the Polynesian peoples. Steve McQuillan’s choreography of the combat scenes is striking since he served both as a stunt double and as a choreographer. The spears, wooden clubs, and the hand-to-hand fighting techniques set a stunning and fierce tone that embodies tribal combat. The technique honors the cultural importance of combat in battle.
Themes: Much More Than Revenge
Revenge is Hongi’s motivation, but in The Dead Lands, revenge is not the whole premise of the story – the issue of honor, legacy and redemption are also important.
Revenge and Redemption: At the heart of the story, there is Hongi, a youth full of rage who transforms into a leader who knows that the mark of honor is sacrifice: sacrificing the need to shed blood for the protection of one’s people.
Mentorship and Legacy: The relationship between Hongi and the Warrior is an example of how mentorship is portrayed in the film. His internal demons are absolved when the Warrior, burdened by the ache of his history, decides to teach Hongi. Their bond emphasizes the value of choices and the legacy of the past.
Cultural Identity: The Dead Lands captures the essence of the indigenous people by celebrating Polynesian traditions and languages. Contrary to popular belief, the film portrays the Maori as diverse characters, instead of one-dimensional representations of violence.
Spirituality and Fear: The Dead Lands, or The Dead World itself carries the essence of the story, and reflects the spiritual views and beliefs of the Māori. The Warrior’s memories and Hongi’s trek through the mystical landscape creates a tale that merges reality with the other world.
Critical Reception
The Dead Lands has garnered positive reviews for its originality and craftsmanship since its release, with its Rotten Tomatoes rating standing at an impressive 87. Critically, the role of Hongi was universally praised. Each salient feature in the movie for which Lawrence Makoare carried out such a nuanced performane as the warrior was equally acclaimed for it’s depth and the complexity it brought with it. The expertly crafted choreography of the deadly sequences also became a salient feature.
Despite this, some critics pointed out the familiar themes of the revenger genre was similar to a historic action pieces such as The Last Samurai or The Last of The Mohicans. However, The Dead Lands places itself above other films by rooting the plot deep within the rich history of the Māori people. It is a perspective that is seldom explored in the world of cinema.
Legacy and Impact
As one of the earliest films shot completely in the Māori language, The Dead Lands pioneered the indigenous film industry. It was not just a celebration of New Zealand’s stunning scenery, but also introduced Māori culture to the rest of the world. The film screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and was available on Netflix which made it accessible to a wider audience beyond New Zealand and provided a glimpse into the reality behind the struggles faced by the Māori people.
A Final Word
In the same vein as the Last Samurai, The Dead Lands is yet another immersive tale of action packed vengeance, identity, and redemption. The film paints a gripping story through breathtaking images, incredible performances, and deep appreciation for Māori culture, making it an achievment in the world of indigenous cinema. It’s a tale where the past meets the present in beautiful ways, and speaks of forgiveness amidst survival.
Watch Free Movies on Goojara