Audience Member
A series of shorts that was suppose to come together around the death of a child. It didn't work. Confusing, discursive.. I tried in vain to put it together. The pity is that they could have taken any single short in the film and made a very interesting movie out of it. Instead they tired to film a jig saw puzzle. Too bad.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
01/14/23
Full Review
Maureen T
Very touching, original.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
08/29/19
Full Review
Audience Member
- The women of Waru are the mothers of our generation -
When I heard that Waru was a collaborative creation of eight Maori wahine (women) sharing their stories of mother and child relationships in Aotearoa (New Zealand), I was inspired and moved to support and witness their voice and this kaupapa (movement).
Waru is a collection of eight short films, all directed by eight Maori women, with a different cast featuring in each film. Each story is linked by a tangi (funeral) of the death of a young boy.
Unfortunately, it is rare that I have come across multiple indigenous women sharing stories and speaking of family struggles from their perspective. And excitingly, Waru featured recently at Toronto international film festival, allowing it to have global impact.
The opening begins with a child's voice that effortlessly dropped me into an innocent space of witness. It reminded me of the vulnerability we go through as children dependant on the love and care of adults for survival. As the stories progress, we are invited into the lives and homes of Wahine as the nurturers and caregivers of families that are struggling financially, mentally and otherwise. Waru highlights the struggle that indigenous women have in this urbanized society where money is a massive driver in the quality of life.
As a woman myself, I was deeply saddened and impacted by the scenes of wahine being challenged to provide the simple necessities of life like food and water and trying to care for their families through the social welfare system. Not only is this financial struggle tough, Waru clearly showed how all of the emotional and mental challenges are interrelated.
Throughout the movie, I could feel the impact and presence of Maori culture and way of life being stripped by the flow on effects of colonization here in New Zealand. This is a perspective that is rarely seen or openly discussed on a New Zealand national platform.
Technically the filmmakers achieve this intimate perspective through the use of creating each film with one shot. This technique creates a connection to the story in such a way that we are not only very close to the action but in moments I felt as if I was the character. Thus I felt a strong connection to the emotion of what each woman experiences.
What inspired me about this incredibly powerful collection of short films was the creation process. Eight Maori woman directors including Briar Grace-Smith, Casey Kaa, Ainsley Gardiner, Katie Wolfe, Chelsea Cohen, Renae Maihi, Paula Jones, Awanui Simich-Pene gathered in wananga to discuss and share their personal whanau (family) stories around the kaupapa of child abuse. These mana wahine and other supporting whanau shared in space as a united sisterhood to tackle this massive global issue and took their very real and personal stories to the screen.
Waru was a very talented and bold weaving of short stories where all viewers had the opportunity to receive the realness and authenticity of the collected stories. It was inspiring for such issues to be heard and not swept under the carpet in the turning wheel of today's society. Waru was a beautifully honest and powerful collaboration.
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This review was first published on Narrative Muse, http://www.narrativemuse.co/movies/waru, and was written by Komako Silver. Narrative Muse curates the best books and movies by and about women and non-binary folk on our website http://narrativemuse.co and our social media channels.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/08/23
Full Review
Audience Member
There is so much to say about this film that there is no logical place, for me, to begin.
Amazing, amazing movie. SO intense and provokes a lot of emotions and thoughts that many people will want to supress normally.
For me, there could be more. Is that it? Is it unfinished? Do we write the end, as a society? Who knows.
What I do know, is the issues portrayed are everyone's problem. Not even as much as only being New Zealand(ers) but everyone, worldwide. If you see something that is not right, act. Don't wait for, or expect, someone else to. Act now. Before it's too late. Don't regret thinking about doing something to step in.
For some it will be a reality hard to align with, for others they want to pretend these things don't happen. And for so many, it's all too painfully familiar. Wherever you lie amongst that, should not affect the outcome. If you see it, say it.
Changes need to be made. Within our communities, our families, our "justice systems" and most importantly our attitudes.
It's not a blame game. It's not a race problem. Its everyone's problem. It's not Maoris fault and similarly, it's not Pakehas fault for somewhat corrupting Maori, I took was the inference? Some might say it's easy for me to comment such, a white Scottish girl living in New Zealand, enveloping herself in anything Maori. But as much as who we are defines us, it does not. We are all one. One race. We are people. Because I look different to my neighbour does not make me or them any less of a person. We should strive to always treat others how we wish to be treated, so ditch the offensive and defensive labels. Don't be cast into the shadows of a supposed definition. Be who you are, true to yourself, your heritage and your culture. But in the same breath, let go of what shackles may come from it too. Accept those people who are different to you, for if we were all the same, the world would be a sadder place. Move away from the divisive societies to a place where we can trust and help one another through the struggles, for everyone faces them do they not?
In a world where you can be anything, be kind. Always.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/14/23
Full Review
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