“Once Were Warriors” is a violent and deeply unsettling film that tackles some very serious issues such as domestic violence and racial inequality. It (literally) pulls no punches and it is a fascinating watch. Some may not be able to tolerate the violence but this is powerful movie worth seeing.

In “Once Were Warriors”, a Maori family struggles to stick together as they live in the slums of Auckland. Jake Heke (Temuera Morrison “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones”) is the father, a severely violent drunk with a serious temper. Also, the family must face societal problems as anything even resembling a ‘perfect’ family becomes increasingly distant.

Temeura Morrison is fantastic as Jake. The character is actually likeable at times, which makes it even more shocking when he does turn violent. The main victim of Jake’s violence is his wife Beth (Rena Owen “A.I. Artificial Intelligence”). The character Beth is very sympathetic and we grown to understand why she tolerates the abuse. The acting from Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell as the eldest daughter is also great. We want to see this family overcome the hardships they face yet we become very aware that every glimmer of hope is nothing more than a glimmer.

“Once Were Warriors” does not mess around; it shows you believable domestic violence and a child being the victim of a truly shocking crime. The movie has been cited as New Zealand’s best film and I can see why because this is a great movie. You will often notice that I criticise films for excessive violence but the writing in a movie such as this, completely justifies the use of the extreme violence. This is a stylish, moving and engaging film that will both shock and entertain you. I sincerely hope that you are able to give “Once Were Warriors” a try.