I think I might have liked this movie even more than Once Were Warriors. The focus of the first movie was Beth Heke, a strong female character who survived unthinkable hardship. This time, we center on her ex-husband, Jake Heke--New Zealand's answer to Frances Begbie. For me, this movie was all about watching him take small steps towards healing and redemption.
The first part of the movie establishes the degree to which Jake's behavior makes him a social outcast. In the first movie, he got away with ordering everyone around and beating up and wrecking everything in his way. Now, everyone is tired of his drinking and fighting, his family wants nothing to do with him, and even the woman he is with is setting limits. Jake finds himself completely alone, causing him to re-think his outlook.
The other major plot line involves the death of Jake's oldest son, Nig, who dies in a gang altercation. Nig's girlfriend and younger brother unite to get revenge on the killers.
I love stories where characters who have reasons to hate each other end up as allies--L.A. Confidential is my favorite example. In the last portion of this movie, Jake and his younger son reconcile just in time for a showdown with a gang leader. Watching Jake stroll into the Snake's fortress, knowing he is about to kick some tail, was one of the great moments of anticipation in any movie I've seen.
There is another relationship that is key to Jake's progress: He makes friends with two hunters, who he initially respects because they are bigger and stronger than even him. One of the best moments, equally humorous and dramatic, is when the hunters chastise Jake for fighting at the pub: "People come here for a drink. Not for that. We're outta here." Again, Jake finds himself an outsider because of his anti-social behavior, which he is beginning to realize is not normal. Eventually, they take him hunting, and you can see the boy becoming a man as Jake finds healing on the hunting grounds, where he finally has a healthy outlet for his aggression. Get out of the bar, Jake. Go experience life.
A lot of people have criticized the abrupt ending, but I thought the story did everything it needed to. Of course, it left me wanting more, and I will try to track down the third novel, because I feel even more invested in these characters than before. I felt like every character in this story, no matter how small, was well developed. They felt real, not stereotypes or cartoon characters. It was more like watching a series than just a self-contained movie. I wish it could keep going.
The first part of the movie establishes the degree to which Jake's behavior makes him a social outcast. In the first movie, he got away with ordering everyone around and beating up and wrecking everything in his way. Now, everyone is tired of his drinking and fighting, his family wants nothing to do with him, and even the woman he is with is setting limits. Jake finds himself completely alone, causing him to re-think his outlook.
The other major plot line involves the death of Jake's oldest son, Nig, who dies in a gang altercation. Nig's girlfriend and younger brother unite to get revenge on the killers.
I love stories where characters who have reasons to hate each other end up as allies--L.A. Confidential is my favorite example. In the last portion of this movie, Jake and his younger son reconcile just in time for a showdown with a gang leader. Watching Jake stroll into the Snake's fortress, knowing he is about to kick some tail, was one of the great moments of anticipation in any movie I've seen.
There is another relationship that is key to Jake's progress: He makes friends with two hunters, who he initially respects because they are bigger and stronger than even him. One of the best moments, equally humorous and dramatic, is when the hunters chastise Jake for fighting at the pub: "People come here for a drink. Not for that. We're outta here." Again, Jake finds himself an outsider because of his anti-social behavior, which he is beginning to realize is not normal. Eventually, they take him hunting, and you can see the boy becoming a man as Jake finds healing on the hunting grounds, where he finally has a healthy outlet for his aggression. Get out of the bar, Jake. Go experience life.
A lot of people have criticized the abrupt ending, but I thought the story did everything it needed to. Of course, it left me wanting more, and I will try to track down the third novel, because I feel even more invested in these characters than before. I felt like every character in this story, no matter how small, was well developed. They felt real, not stereotypes or cartoon characters. It was more like watching a series than just a self-contained movie. I wish it could keep going.