Ka Whawhai Tonu means Struggle Without End in the Māori language. And in the film of the same name (presented in Māori, with the English meaning as the subtitle) the mentioned struggle takes place in New Zealand during the 1860s, following the devastating conflict between Māori and colonial soldiers, and the fight the Māori people engaged in against incredible odds.
However, screenwriter Tim Worrall and director Mike Jonathon (in his directorial debut) have taken the foundations of true events of this tumultuous time in New Zealand’s history, featuring a handful of integral real-life figures including Rewi Maniapoti (Temuera Morrison), Wi Toka (Cliff Curtis), and Te Whenuanui (Te Wakaunua Te Kurapa), and formed a unique perspective on the New Zealand wars through the eyes of two teenagers who are coming-of-age during these events.
Kopu (Hinerangi Harawira-Nicholas) is a teenage girl who is believed by her tribe to have a supernatural, spiritual ability to contact the Māori god of war, Papatuanuku. An ability that leads to a harrowing accusation of Kopu being a witch, leading to tribespeople segregating her from the tribe.
Haki (Paku Fernandez) is a half-Māori, half-European boy whose mother was killed during the war, and whose father is a soldier in the colonial forces (played by Jason Flemyng). When Haki is captured by Tuhoe forces, led by Rewi Maniapoti, he must decide about the side he chooses to fight on.
Ka Whawhai Tonu offers an incredibly unique point of view into the New Zealand wars, as the horrifying experiences of violence, death, and decimation of the indigenous peoples during this time is seen completely through the innocent lens of young teenagers. Despite being a film that unnervingly never shies away from the brutality of the situation, there’s an accessibility for audiences through the naivety and genuine good will of these kids who have not yet had their identities shaped by the atrocities of invasive war. The hope-filled ideologies of wanting to do what’s right for their people, or even the not fully realised understanding of their place in the world, gives a sense of levity to the film, even in the story’s darker moments.
The performances from Fernandez and Harawira-Nicholas are a large part of the reason the child-like innocence plays so well on screen. The authenticity of playing age-appropriate characters discovering their identities is parallel to the idea that this film is the first major starring role for both actors, and elements of that work hand in hand quite well on screen. From the reluctance of their characters bonding during the hardship, to the heartbreaking way both characters let their emotions and trauma dictate decision making without logic allows for incredible relatability.
Anchoring a lot of Ka Whawhai Tonu’s heavily dramatic moments are the strong performances from Temuera Morrison and Cliff Curtis, who also speak all of their lines in the Maori language. The pure masculine energy of these tribesmen who will do whatever it takes to protect their sacred homes is palpable and electric on screen, with both often having the most captivating, scene stealing moments throughout the film.
Capturing the beautiful landscape of Aotearoa, director Mike Jonathon purposefully showcases the serene and stunning country with sweeping shots of the scenery. That purposefully display of beauty makes the heart wrenching juxtaposition of the brutality occurring in this land even more hard hitting. Johnson doesn’t shy away from the spectacle of the war either, with large, explosive set-pieces immersing the audience right into the action but relying on the strong emotional foundations set with the characters and story to fully captivate.
Another way the film immerses the audiences into the authentic portrayal of this time is the predominant use of the Māori language, something that has been quite rare for New Zealand cinema until recent releases like Muru and The Convert. Seeing actors of such stature like Curtis and Morrison completely lean into the Māori culture for the sake of, not just this film, but the importance of the story being told, adds another layer of substance to the gritty emotional feeling that this film carries so strongly.
Ka Whawhai Tonu offers a unique perspective into the brutality of the New Zealand wars between the Māori people and the colonial armies through the innocent, naïve lens of teenagers growing up during these times. This is a truly immersive story that features incredible performances, stunning visuals, and an authentic cultural portrayal that is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful.
Ka Whawhai Tonu: Struggle Without End is in Australian cinemas August 1, courtesy of Transmission films.
