I liked this film because it shows that although one may appear to betray his own people like the way the main Maori character did, he ended up betraying the oppressive forces. Blood is always thicker than water and one would never betray his own people despite how it looked in the opening minutes of the film. This is clearly a revenge film. I just found out that the word "utu" is Maori meaning "revenge". This film is very appropriately named "Utu" for that reason. But I found it interesting how that young Maori girl and the young army officer became friends. Of course, it wasn't ALL Maori fighting the whites. Some whites and Maori got along well, were friends, lovers etc. But Anzac Wallace played his role very well. I also noticed throughout the film that although the setting was in 1870's New Zealand, it looked a lot like America during the Wild West. There were scenes with saloons, old towns, forts etc. just like the American West had them during that same time. I have always been all for any kind of film where Indigenous people fight against oppression. This is one of those many films. But unfortunately, in real life history, there were many Indigenous sellouts who betrayed their own people by scouting for the white military. Even they got screwed over by the armies in spite of their promises to pay them, take them in and treat them to a "better life", etc. The armies only used the Indigenous for their own selfish purposes by stealing THEIR lands, resources etc. I don't blame those who sold out to their own people because it was always the white men's fault who purposely tricked them into believing their bogus promises. This film has all of that. Even Anzac's character killed a few the so-called sellouts.
Anyway, this one deserves a 7 out of 10.
Anyway, this one deserves a 7 out of 10.