Set in Aotearoa New Zealand in 1864, Ka Whawhai Tonu tells the story of a pivotal battle in the first New Zealand land wars in the Waikato region. A battle fought with impossible odds between Māori and the Colonial forces. This heroic conflict is told through the eyes of two young teenagers forced to take control of their own destiny amidst the chaos of the battle and their escape.

As we move ever forward into the future, it also makes sense to look back into the past to examine our history and recollect moments from the past. Ka Whawhai Tonu is a picture that holds to that focus of looking back on the past to examine where we are now, and director Michael Jonathan brings about an entirely epic production that captures the intensity, passion and violence of the Maori Land Wars. Told with an immense attention to detail and digging into the psychological complexity of the conflict, Ka Whawhai Tonu brings together a layered and complex narrative with multiple viewpoints that bring new light to our shared history, and it’s an important watch for audiences to realise where we have come from.

In bringing Ka Whawhai Tonu to life, director Michael Jonathan has an incredible cast from which to draw, and these performers, both young and veterans, bring an incredible level of depth to their characters and the truth of this picture. Ka Whawhai Tonu is told from the perspective of two children, Kopu (Hinerangi Harawira-Nicholas) and Haki (Paku Fernandez), who are on the verge of leaving childhood and entering young adulthood and this shock of war and the blood and horror that comes with it changes them in profound ways they could never have felt. Both Harawira-Nicholas and Paku Fernandez bring sincerity and depth to this tale of loss of innocence, and each invests the audience in the story. Ka Whawhai Tonu also showcases an outstanding performance from veteran actor Temuera Morrison, who digs in deep as he portrays the real-life character of politician and military commander Rewi Maniapoto, and Morrison brings considerable gravitas and mana to the production.

Ka Whawhai Tonu is an immediate and intense viewing experience, and it places audiences right in the trenches of this conflict and the fallout that follows it. Jonathan and cinematographer Grant McKinnon use a kinetic and fast shooting style, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere on set, and you feel history come to life as two forces clash in the making of a nation. Ka Whawhai Tonu is history come alive, and its visceral experience leads to a captivating watch.

Ka Whawhai Tonu is an important narrative film of historical drama and immediacy and is a picture worthy of your time. Performance and atmosphere capture a unique period of Aotearoa, New Zealand’s history, and all who witness it will be spellbound by its power of drama.

Image: Transmission Films

The post ‘Ka Whawhai Tonu’ – Review appeared first on SpicyPulp.