Cook the man some eggs
Once Were Warriors is a powerful portrayal of dysfunctional society in south Auckland, New Zealand. Temuera Morrison plays Jake Heke, or Jake the Mus, and Rena Owen plays his long suffering wife, Beth. Jake lives for beer and brawls and destroys his family along the way. Domestic violence, gangs, maoridom, a woman's strength, finding yourself, losing yourself... it is all here.

The book, by Alan Duff, is also very good although it does have a unique style that might make it hard for some people to get into. The follow up movie What Became of the Broken Hearted is not quite as good as the first but is still worth a look, while the (second) book is certainly more accessible than the first.

I remember seeing Once Were Warriors on the big screen and when the film was over and people were leaving the theatre, no one spoke. Powerful stuff.

Some You Tube clips linked but they contain spoilers of course.
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Tue 22 Jul 2008, 22:04, 7 replies)

I think you'll find
That "Two Lakes" is actually Rotorua
(Harleif Skankhammer II was killing time at, Tue 22 Jul 2008, 22:38, closed)

^Yeah
The book = two lakes/Rotorua. The movie OWW takes place in South Auckland.
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Tue 22 Jul 2008, 22:43, closed)

Impressive and powerful film.
Hard to watch at times.
( joefish It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks, Tue 22 Jul 2008, 22:48, closed)

Uh-Oh
My kid saw that a week before leaving for a year in rural New Zealand.
Her reaction: "Oh shit."
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 2:37, closed)

Once Were Worried
I met Temuera Morrison once and he was a lovely bloke, not at all scary like Jake and I told him so. His face changed, he leaned in until he was about two inches from me and he said to me in a very quiet, very scary voice: "What do you mean, boy?"
I nearly shat myself, started muttering apologies and wondered who would feed my dog when I died in the next few seconds.
Then he leaned back, gave me a great big smile and said : "See that? That's called acting!" and cracked up laughing.
If I could switch on the scary bit like that I'd be very happy.
( difficultchild, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 5:13, closed)

..
Id seen oww before i went to the uk. It was on tv one night and i watched with my irish flatmates they were joking through it untill the " Cook the man a feed of eggs!" scene . They were remarkably quiet only occasional " The bastard" for the rest of the film.
Iv been through south auckland several times its a bloody awful place
(welgar, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 7:16, closed)

Great fight scene in the pub
"Just like I thought, all weights and not enough speedwork. Useless prick!"
(oneinthepink is at your cervix m'lady, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 9:07, closed)