A collection of events, including two film screenings, are being offered for Motueka’s residents to acknowledge and celebrate Waitangi Day.
‘Uproar’ will be shown at Te Āwhina Marae on Thursday, 6 February, for a koha. It is a 2023 New Zealand coming-of-age film directed by Lower Moutere resident Hamish Bennett as well as Paul Middleditch, and starring Julian Dennison, Rhys Darby and Minnie Driver. The critically acclaimed comedy-drama is set in 1981 in Ōtepoti/ Dunedin against the backdrop of the divisive Springboks tour.
The protagonist, initially based on Middleditch himself, was originally of Pākehā descent. However, Hamish says that after Julian Dennison read for a supporting character, the Ngāti Hauā actor expressed a desire to tackle the lead role.
A rewrite was needed, and Hamish was initially brought on board as screenwriter to make the changes, which included re-envisioning the narrative into a coming-of-age story for a young Māori boy of Kāi Tahu descent.
Hamish found himself in the unusual position of writing a role for a specific actor, which meant he could create a part that was “centred around a person rather than centred around a topic”.
“As much as the wider context of that time is important to the story, for me, everything still comes back to people.”
After reworking the script, Hamish stayed on as co-director, saying that he “couldn’t let go” of the story. Hamish has whakapapa to Kāi Tahu, and he expressed gratitude to the southern iwi for their blessing and involvement from start to finish in the film’s creation.
Hamish moved to the area about a year ago with his family. He and his wife both have whānau here and “a strong connection” to the area”. He will be introducing the film before its screening at Te Āwhina Marae next Thursday evening.
As well as ‘Uproar’, Motueka will also be hosting ‘Alien Weaponry’, which tells the story of two teenage brothers attempting to storm the world of thrash metal with the Māori language. It is running at State Cinema on 5 February at 6pm. A powhiri will be held at the marae on Waitangi Day at 4pm, before Matua Ropata Stephens offers a korero about the marae’s history, and Kerensa Johnston speaks about Te Tiriti and the Nelson Tenths.
