Mahana – Eine Maori-Saga (2016)

Mahana – Eine Maori-Saga: Directed by Lee Tamahori. With Temuera Morrison, Akuhata Keefe, Nancy Brunning, Jim Moriarty. From the author of “The Whale Rider

“In 1994 relatively unknown New Zealand based director Lee Tamahori made Once Were Warriors.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA haunting drama centred around a group of native Maoriu0026#39;s, Once Were Warriors is one of New Zealandu0026#39;s most respected films and set Tamahori into a career in Hollywood were he went on to direct a group of relatively forgettable films such as Die Another Day and The Edge, but after 20 plus years plying his trade in the land of dreams and big budgets, Tamahori has returned to the beautiful shores of his homeland to helm quiet family drama Mahana, that in turn reteams him with his Warriors breakout star Temuera Morrison.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHere playing the Mahana family matriarch, the Mahanau0026#39;s a group of farmers in 1960u0026#39;s New Zealand, Morrison still cuts an imposing figure but like the film itself, his granddaddy Mahana just isnu0026#39;t as fully formed and memorable as Mahana the film couldu0026#39;ve so easily been and while this handsomely crafted drama attempts the epic, this is more middle of the range than Tamahoriu0026#39;s home country return wouldu0026#39;ve initially seemed to be on paper.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAll the hallmarks of a captivating family drama are here, from the young teenage centrepiece Simeon, here played by Akuhata Keefe who doesnu0026#39;t exactly engage to the level needed, the 1960u0026#39;s settings, family mysteries and tensions between rival farming families but Mahana always feels like a glass half-full experience and while thereu0026#39;s emotional material at the core of this tale, Tamahori and his cast canu0026#39;t make the audience commit to proceedings like Once Were Warriors so easily did.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne thing that is for sure however is that Mahana absolutely looks stunning, itu0026#39;d certainly take a fair effort to make the natural surrounds of New Zealand look anything but wondrous but Tamahori is clearly relishing the chance to get back on home soil and showcase the vast and plenteous lands of this magical country and the 60u0026#39;s time period allows things to look even more appealing as the audience is transported back to a time and place where nature was still king.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFinal Say – u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s great to see Tamahori back home and once more working with the underrated Morrison and itu0026#39;s especially nice to see Tamahori step away from forgettable Hollywood actioners but while Mahana has all the elements of a potential new classic NZ based drama you canu0026#39;t help but feel this 90 minute film is just a slight cut above a made for TV experience that couldu0026#39;ve benefited greatly from a tighter script and a sharper execution, even if the backdrop of New Zealand makes for a constantly eye-capturing tale, just not one that captures the heart.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e3 interrupted cinema screenings out of 5”