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Waru (2017 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Waru' is a 2017 drama anthology 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 'kuta' (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 microagressions and overt racism alike while her colleagues discuss the murder of Waru.
'Mere'
Young teen Mere, armed 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 as Kiritapu
* Acacia Hapi as Mere
* Amber Curreen as "Titty" (short for 'Whatitiri' or "thunder" in Mori)
* Miriama McDowell as "Bash" (a nickname derived from 'Uira' or "lightning" in Mori)
Production
The film consists of eight 10-minute long takes, each written and directed by nine Mori 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
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