An Extremely Powerful And Emotional Film...

EVOL666

I picked this film up for my girlfriend who had mentioned that she saw it a few years ago and really liked it. I didn't really think much of it until I sat and watched it - and I'm really glad I did. ONCE WERE WARRIORS is an EXTREMELY powerful and moving film about a poor New Zealand Maori family who is being torn apart by alcoholism, abuse, and the surroundings/environment that they live in.

Jake (the father) is a heavy-drinking, working-class, tough-guy - who spends more time at the bar with his mates than at home with his family. When he is home, he is usually either passed out drunk or has all his mates over to party and basically tear sh!t up. Jake also has a violent temper and doesn't mind knockin' the ol' lady around when he's fired up...

Beth is a loving but emotionally-damaged mother and wife whose own demons get the best of her and keep her from doing what's right for her family. She is also into the sauce and has long since lost control of her family and her own life...

Nig (the oldest son) has just joined a violent gang and has not time nor interest in his family...

Grace (the oldest daughter) is a sweet and creative girl with aspirations of being a writer, but her surroundings and constant negative environment make any sort of hope for a better life nearly impossible...

The youngest son, Mark (aka Boogie) is in with the wrong crowd and constantly gets into petty trouble, to the point that he gets sent away and becomes a ward of the state...

There are two younger children as well, but we only see them in passing and they don't play any huge roles in the film.

ONCE WERE WARRIORS centers around this extremely dysfunctional family - and Beth's weak attempts to hold them together despite all the negative influences that constantly surround all of them, and that they allow to remain in their lives. Jake and his drinking, partying, and uncaring attitude towards his wife and family make it impossible for them to dig themselves out of their pitiful situations, and lead to some truly heart-wrenching and sickening consequences - and Beth's lack of protest and refusal to leave this bad situation only makes matters worse - leaving the children stuck in the middle.

OWW is a powerful and emotional film that is very realistic in it's depiction of poverty, abuse, addiction, and hopelessness. But this film is not nihilistic or mean-spirited. At the heart of it is a story of hope against all odds, and in this sense is inspiring. OWW is in many ways hauntingly beautiful and strangely funny. Jake for example is as big a dick as they come - but he can also be amusingly charming and witty - when he's not drinking. Although the subject matter is completely different, OWW reminds me of the Brazian films, CARANDIRU and CITY OF GOD (2 other excellent films...) in terms of it's stark and honest portrayal of poverty and it's effects on people. Definitely one of the emotionally strongest films I've seen in quite a while. Highly Recommended - 10/10

score 10/10

EVOL666 23 February 2006

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1298623/