Ngati

1987 New Zealand film
  • 1987 (1987)
Running time
92 minutesCountryNew ZealandLanguagesEnglish
Maori

Ngati is a 1987 New Zealand feature film directed by Barry Barclay, written by Tama Poata and produced by John O'Shea.[1]

Production

Ngati is of historical and cultural significance in New Zealand as it is the first feature film written and directed by Māori.[2] Producer John O'Shea, an icon in New Zealand's film industry, was the founder of independent film company Pacific Films.[3] The film is set in 1948 in a small town on the east coast of New Zealand during the impending closure of a freezing works and the threat of unemployment for the local community. Ngati was screened as part of Cannes' Critics Week.

Synopsis

Set in and around the fictional town of Kapua in 1948, Ngati is the story of a Māori community. The film comprises three narrative threads: a boy, Ropata, is dying of leukaemia; the return of a young Australian doctor, Greg, and his discovery that he has Māori heritage; and the fight to keep the local freezing works open. Unique in tone and quietly powerful in its storytelling, Ngati was Barry Barclay's first dramatic feature and the first feature to be written and directed by Māori. Ngati screened in Critics' Week at Cannes.[4]

Cast

The film features veteran stage and screen actor Wi Kuki Kaa in the lead role of 'Iwi'.

Awards

References

  1. ^ Martin, Helen; Edwards, Sam (1997). "New Zealand film, 1912-1996". Trove. Auckland ; Melbourne ; Oxford :Oxford University Press. Retrieved 13 January 2023. ISBN 0-19-558336-1
  2. ^ "Ngāti | Film | NZ On Screen".
  3. ^ "Background | Ngāti | Film | NZ On Screen".
  4. ^ "Ngāti | Film | NZ On Screen".

External links

  • Ngati at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  • Watch Ngati movie clip at NZ On Screen
  • Official NZ Government Film website
  • Interview with director Barry Barclay on Youtube
  • v
  • t
  • e
Films directed by Barry Barclay
Features
  • Ashes (1975)
  • Aku Mahi Whatu Maori (My Art of Maori Weaving) (1977)
  • The Neglected Miracle (1985)
  • Ngati (1987)
  • Te Rua (1991)
  • The Feathers of Peace (2000)
  • The Kaipara Affair (2005)
Television
  • The Town That Lost a Miracle (1972)
  • Tangata Whenua (1974)
  • Autumn Fires (1975)
  • Hunting Horns (1975)
  • Indira Gandhi (1976)


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