There are many things to like about this film. The cinematography is wonderful; the story is simple; the acting is creditable. But sadly, for me, it is let down by a very unconvincing relationship between the "tracker" and the "tracked", both of whom work hard to shift the balance but, in my opinion, do not ever do so.
The plot is familiar. "Savage" in the form of a returning Maori (Morrison) kills soldier in apparent self defence and runs. He is tracked by van Diemen (Winstone) a Boer with his own fish to fry and some disturbed and disturbing British soldiers. There is a promising start to the chase, but, as the "game of cat and mouse" should hot up it seems to cool off, evaporate and lose its way.
Perhaps it gets bogged down in detail about what the players are doing in New Zealand in the first case and why they are fighting their corners. Whatever it is that flaws the early promise the film unravels and we are left with a rather predictable ending, and anti-climax, and no real resolution to the "game".
I am sure there are much better scripts than this to transfer into film. Indeed much better use could and should have been made of this script.
Disappointing.
The plot is familiar. "Savage" in the form of a returning Maori (Morrison) kills soldier in apparent self defence and runs. He is tracked by van Diemen (Winstone) a Boer with his own fish to fry and some disturbed and disturbing British soldiers. There is a promising start to the chase, but, as the "game of cat and mouse" should hot up it seems to cool off, evaporate and lose its way.
Perhaps it gets bogged down in detail about what the players are doing in New Zealand in the first case and why they are fighting their corners. Whatever it is that flaws the early promise the film unravels and we are left with a rather predictable ending, and anti-climax, and no real resolution to the "game".
I am sure there are much better scripts than this to transfer into film. Indeed much better use could and should have been made of this script.
Disappointing.