Once Were Warriors (1994)

94% of critics liked it
(32 reviews)
94% of users liked it
(28,542 ratings)

This powerful drama was a major hit in its native New Zealand, outgrossing Jurassic Park in Kiwi cinemas. Jake and Beth Heke (Temurea Morrison and Rena Owen) are a couple of Maori descent who are living in a slum in Aukland. While it's obvious that they still love each other, Jake's alcoholism has… More This powerful drama was a major hit in its native New Zealand, outgrossing Jurassic Park in Kiwi cinemas. Jake and Beth Heke (Temurea Morrison and Rena Owen) are a couple of Maori descent who are living in a slum in Aukland. While it's obvious that they still love each other, Jake's alcoholism has driven a wedge into their relationship and has left their children emotionally scarred. Jake is charming while sober, but when drunk, he's a violent psychopath given to blink-of-an-eye mood changes and terrible cruelty against his loved ones. Liquor has also made it difficult for Jake to hold onto a job, leaving him dependent on the dole to feed his family. Nig (Julian Arahanga), Jake's oldest son, has turned his back on his father and joined a gang of Maori youths whose initiation rituals include tattooing and torture. Jake's 13-year-old daughter Grace (Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell) prefers to spend her time with her drug-addicted boyfriend -- rather than stay home and fight off the advances of her father's friends. And Boogie (Taungaroa Emile) ends up in juvenile hall when Jake's drinking prevents him from going to court to speak on Boogie's behalf. Once Were Warriors was based on an acclaimed novel by Alan Duff. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Lee Tamahori
Genres: Drama

On DVD: Sep 2, 2003

Critic Reviews

Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
A gut-grabber from New Zealand ... that stays with you for days.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
As often happens when films are intent on getting a message across, Once Were Warriors can't stop itself from overdoing things.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Works, to some degree, on three levels: the visceral, the emotional, and the intellectual, and it is the amalgamation of these that makes this a memorable film.
Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic
Yet familiar as the pattern is ... the film holds because of the acting and because it functions as travelogue.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
The actors, many of them of European-Maori descent, are wonderful to look at. They also deliver authoritative yet sympathetic performances that get at the roots, or rootlessness, of their characters.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It is powerful and chilling, and directed by Lee Tamahori with such narrative momentum that we are swept along in the enveloping tragedy of the family's life.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of the most powerful, ultra-realistic dramas about domestic violence--As the battered wife, Rena Welson should have received a Best Actress nomination.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Overrated and nauseating.
Sarah Chauncey, Reel.com
It packs such a searing wallop of emotion that the viewer may be rendered incapable of speaking for several hours. It's that profoundly affecting.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Packed with bloody raw emotion.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
The DVD, beside offering a pristine, widescreen transfer of the film, includes a commentary by Tamahori, a behind-the-scenes featurette and a tattoo photo gallery. . . .

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

familiar s

I went for this one presuming it's a war movie. Little did I know that it was instead a social story of a family headed by a violent person. Anyway, as the credits started rolling in somewhat unusual way, I thought that this is gonna be some offbeat movie beyond my grasping… More
I went for this one presuming it's a war movie. Little did I know that it was instead a social story of a family headed by a violent person. Anyway, as the credits started rolling in somewhat unusual way, I thought that this is gonna be some offbeat movie beyond my grasping abilities (somewhat is still left, honestly). Fortunately, it wasn't so. It was a simple story of a beautiful woman marrying a lower class, violent man and the disastrous consequences of her decision. It was a simple story of a woman's struggle to survive against all odds and who learns a lifetime lesson only after a dreadful tragedy. There was too much violence in the movie, but I can't say it was unnecessary. Hell, it was difficult to even merely look at the face of the lead actress after her husband beats her badly. I'm glad that I was able to sit through those painful scenes and it was well worth my time. All in all, it's a brutally realistic tale told in an incredible way, thanks to the best efforts put in by those involved in the making of the film. Rena Owen was second to none in the role of tolerant wife, and Temuera Morrison was so natural as a violent asshole that you start hating his guts in no time.
EightThirty .

True to the core... There is something in this movie that ever body can relate to, from rape to suicide, from drugs to alcohol and gangs to gangsters from Parents to children, from boyfriends to girlfriends, from crime to criminals and depression to optimism, from loyal words to… More
True to the core... There is something in this movie that ever body can relate to, from rape to suicide, from drugs to alcohol and gangs to gangsters from Parents to children, from boyfriends to girlfriends, from crime to criminals and depression to optimism, from loyal words to broken promises, from love to revenge and Traditions/cultures to poverty the list goes on... This movie does well to cover all such subjects based on the truest nature of any community...Local and Global.
Craig S

Directed by: Lee Tamahori. Starring: Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga. <<"Our people once were warriors. But unlike you Jake, they were people with mana,… More
Directed by: Lee Tamahori. Starring: Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga. <<"Our people once were warriors. But unlike you Jake, they were people with mana, pride; people with spirit. If my spirit can survive living with you for eighteen years, then I can survive anything.">> The story follows a Maori family, descendants of warriors through a course of several weeks. The father is a violent unrelenting man who frequently beats his wife when drunk, while she struggles to keep the family together. But when her oldest son suddenly joins a gang, her youngest son is in trouble with the police and her daughter is keeping a serious secret from everyone, everything leads to an unexpected and brutal end. I am speechless. I will tell it straight and say that the main reason I held off from ever seeing this film was because of the culture behind the film. Living in New Zealand, I have grown up around it and was forced to learn about the history throughout my school years and when you meet the worst of them on the streets, it puts you right off...but I'm glad I finally saw this. This is bound to cause a laugh but with Lee Tamahori's direction debut, it is outstanding. A man who showed such promise, he went way downhill from here. But away from that, he delivers a strong direction debut, deftly keeping the momentum pumping throughout the strong story and he delivers the realistic ways in the most brutal and uncompromising way, but that is exactly what gives the film its kick. The screenplay is astonishingly rich and realistic. Each main character is given there own problems but never as a plot 'ploy', but as a truthful and powerful representation of an unfortunately messy culture and there ideals. The acting got me to my feet. Sure there are some very small sub characters where the actors are horrible, but its the leading roles of the family that deliver the punches (no pun intended). Temuera Morrison is shockingly real as the violent drunk father, like every character, he is given moments to shine through and he certainly doesn't back down and he is a powerful figure on screen. Mamangaroa Kerr-Bell, someone I haven't heard of doesn't do to badly for someone with little acting experience, her powerful character is shared nicely with some moments of realism thanks to her. But after all is said and done with these actors, it is Rena Owen who got me to my feet and I am shocked to see that she did not get more recognition at higher awards. She delivers one of the most powerful and emotional roles I have ever seen in a New Zealand film, playing a mother caught in the middle of it all, trying to cope with the shocking truths, she bought a lump to my throat that I found hard to keep down, she was outstanding. It's one hell of a hard film to watch, I was surprised to finally say 'Oh my god' out loud in a film and that a hard thing to do. Brutal, violent and both shockingly emotion and raw, thanks to a brilliant direction debut, a thoughtful and realistic script and many unexpectedly strong performances, Once Were Warriors is the best New Zealand film ever made, that might just be my opinion, but I have yet to find one that delivers such a punch on so many levels. 88/100 << "I bought seafood today - bloody everything! Just wanted to put a smile on her face. Think she'd let me? Not a chance. All I said was that I got laid off. Anybody would've thought I'd told her my prick had dropped off!" >>
El Hombre I

Brutally honest, 'Once Were Warriors' exposes issues that are common to all urban societies, not just those in New Zealand. The film pulls no punches and is not really suited to the faint-hearted, but for those willing to make the effort to watch it, this movie provides… More
Brutally honest, 'Once Were Warriors' exposes issues that are common to all urban societies, not just those in New Zealand. The film pulls no punches and is not really suited to the faint-hearted, but for those willing to make the effort to watch it, this movie provides rewards. The outstanding cast makes each of the characters deep and effective, and although they are not all particularly likeable, they are sympathetic. Outstanding New Zealand film that explores modern Maori life with great sympathy and great style. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=OnceWereWarriors.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/OnceWereWarriors.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Daniel P

A brutal, raw film about domestic violence and poverty in an urbanizing Maori community in New Zealand, this film is a compelling treatment of Alan Duff's novel of the same name.
Tsubaki S

Yet, it deserves all the praise it has got. A sometimes unpleasant, but never superficial tale of pure raw emotions flowing trough the veins of it's characters. The film never judges them, even Jake, who just happens to act like that because life has never showed him another way… More
Yet, it deserves all the praise it has got. A sometimes unpleasant, but never superficial tale of pure raw emotions flowing trough the veins of it's characters. The film never judges them, even Jake, who just happens to act like that because life has never showed him another way of resolving things. More than anything, the casting makes this stand so much. Oh yeah, there was a sequel it seems, but lacking all the power of the first one.
Lanning :

You must be in a very good mood when you see this movie. Your biorhythms should be triple peaking, or you will surely be down by the time it's over. When I think of this one, movies like Elephant and American History X come to mind. The… More
You must be in a very good mood when you see this movie. Your biorhythms should be triple peaking, or you will surely be down by the time it's over. When I think of this one, movies like Elephant and American History X come to mind. The intensity does not let up; it's like a huge, unrelenting knot in your stomach. Temuera Morrison is astonishing, this cast is all-around excellent, and the story is as much about the ravages of Westernization as it is about dealing -- or not -- with the consequences. Either you bend but cope, or you break. The only reason why I don't give it five stars is because it resolves a little too easily. Grace's suffering and death almost seem overlooked in the rush to the finish. But then again, maybe there is no justice in this world. If you think Lee Tamahori did an interesting job of directing here, you might also want to check out Mulholland Falls.
Leigh R

Deeply sorrowful. Starts very slow and by the end of the movie you are so hooked, wanting to seek justice for the innocents in this film.
Juli R

If you want to understand Kiwi culture, this film is a must-see. It is extremely powerful and disturbing.
Barry L

Extremely powerful film, superb story and very well acted.
Wu C

Never judge a book by it's cover suits this gem perfectly. I remember seeing this on the shelf at my parents video store and avoiding it because the cover was shiet. I just watched it today and was totally blown away. The best film to come out of New Zealand ever "in my… More
Never judge a book by it's cover suits this gem perfectly. I remember seeing this on the shelf at my parents video store and avoiding it because the cover was shiet. I just watched it today and was totally blown away. The best film to come out of New Zealand ever "in my opinion".
Leo L

A fantastic film!