Aotearoa As a setting, the 2014 film The Dead Lands produced by Toa Fraser, is also notable for its distinct cultural violence which is a tribute to the Maori culture. The film’s language is in Maori and stars James Rolleston and Lawrence Makoare. It is a revenge story focused on honour and the drive to exist in the harsh landscapes of Aotearoa.
Synopsis
The tale revolves around Hongi, a young boy of a chief, who has undertaken the mission to seek vengeance for the massacre of his tribe by his rival, Wirepa. It has been foretold that Wirepa’s tribe will prevail against Hongis. Wirepa drafts a fake peace accord, then slaughters Hongi’s natives while claiming it was a fight. He then seizes the region.
The young boy is left without any tribe and vouches to march on the the cursed lands in spite of being warned not to do so because the land is claimed to be filled with spirits thirsting for vengeance, and the greatest warrior of all time (Lawrence Makoare) watches over it.
The Warrior clandestinely prepares Hongi for battle ensuring he possesses basic self-defence skills while training him to combat as a last resort. Their relationship is still developing as they both chase after Wirepa and his posse, resulting in a showdown that forces Hongi to confront his enemies as well as the concepts of revenge, legacy, manhood, and everything he stands for.
Production Information
- Director: Toa Fraser.
- Screenwriter: Glenn Standring.
- Producers: Matthew Metcalfe.
- Cinematography: Leon Narbey.
- Composer: Don McGlashan.
Main Cast:
- James Rolleston as Hongi.
- Lawrence Makoare as The Warrior.
- Te Kohe Tuhaka as Wirepa.
- Rena Owen as Grandmother.
- Xavier Horan as Rangi.
Production and Cinematic Style.
To strengthen and interpret the Dead lands film, historians and advisors have been employed. This has enabled giving due respect and reverence to the Māori culture while accurately depicting its customs, languages and war art.
The movie has been shot in New Zealand and cinematographed by Leon Narbey and the vast wilderness comes across very nicely on screen. The plot itself emerges from true beliefs and words for the folklore has towering cliffs, expansive trees and rapid rivers.
The combat dance directed by Steve McQuilan who also doubles up as the stunt co-coordinator, defines the entire film. The combat consists of mau rākau which is an indigenous Polynesian martial art working with a spear and a wooden club and empty hands. The scenes certainly have a kaleidoscopic nature to them as they are brutal and show vivid aspects of tribal warfare.
Thematic Concerns
Revenge and Redemption:
At its core, the Dead Lands depict a tale of vengeance, however, it may be seen that this particular piece goes above and beyond in refuting the notion of revenge. Unlike the earlier Hongi, who prided himself in bloodshed and honor, by the end of the film, he learns the true essence of honor- which is to nurture your legacy and protect your people instead of resorting to violence.
Mentorship and Legacy:
The relationship developed between Hongi and thewarrior is the perfect depiction of a teacher-student relationship but only through a rational lens. The warrior is a determinist and reaches the assumption that violence hangs in the air, he always tries to do because anything otherwise makes him lose his sense where he tries to pull Hongi out of his futile endeavor of trying to save him at such young age when he’s fully sane.
Cultural Identity:
Moreover, the movie is wholly produced in the Maori Tongue in an effort to support the indigenous culture and language and the dead land which in moderation appears to be a lost cinematic space in the international cinema. Not only does it tell an engaging plot, but it also pays a lot of respect towards the Māori identity and history by showcasing Māori culture through great warriors, rather than stereotypical cartoons.
Spirituality and Fear:
There is a strong connection between the character of Mehi and the Maori culture, and the aspect of farming incorporated in the cultural aspect broadens the scope of character design. The Warrior’s recollection of his history serves to further position him through a psychological lens that complements the narrative of searching for redemption on a metaphysical level.
Critical Reception
The Dead Lands is described by many critics as a more straightforward and action filled version of the culture. It is fair to say that this film well deserves the 87% score marked by Rotten Tomatoes for critic reviews, over 70% of review noted the breathing life credited to the cast performances as well as on the elaborate close combat fight scenes.
Rolleston’s depiction of Hongi’s life and hopes once again earned him praise with several reviewers claiming that Hongi to young adult with an aim who and did grow emotionally from a frightened and helpless child. The Warrior on the other hand was portrayed and loved for a different nature filled with brutality but also a sense of understanding and wisdom that bolstered Makoare’s portrayal.
Sadly, some reviewers suggested that the revenge idea was a bit too much and strongly resembled other tropes found in historical action movies. The movie’s incorporation of various cultures together with the cultural aspect of the plot made it go beyond any other kind of definition.
The incorporation of both Western and Maori elements was able to bear a marvelous product that translated the essence of the story beautifully. In retaliation to the ever occurring decolonization of the New Zealand indigenous people’s identity, the film depicts how the Maori people feel, think and dream. This multi layered context in the film transformed the genre of indigenous cinema on a world-wide scale and some are lead to wonder whether the movie \”$original_cus_row[‘one-punch_grade-recommendation’]\” is a shift of modern indigenous cinema.
Due to it being showcased in the Toronto Film Festival, the movie qualified as a high grade action genre alongside being crowned in multiple international film festivals. New Zealanders were able to stream The Dead Lands on services such as Netflix, giving them a chance to experience New Zealand culture, allowing the breath-taking action of the film to truly reflect it. The movie not only appealed the New Zealand audience but the international audience too.
A gripping tale of Maori seeking vengeance and strength and the dead lands showcase New Zealand’s beautiful landscape to tell their story about forgiveness.
The fast paced story is embedded in a greater canvas and makes sense owing to the direction of Toa Fraser and brilliant acting by James Rolleston and Lawrence Makoare.
There is another magnificent offering from Aotearoa’s movie industry which comes in the form of The Dead Land which once more brings with it shock and awe. In contrast, the movie is set in 1840 which during that time depicts a gripping plot that focuses solely on the Māori people, featuring stunning fight scenes. If you are a fan of The Last Samurai or The Last Of the Mohicans then The Dead Land won’t be any different but sure would be an enthralling movie.
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