Review on Once Were Warriors

I watched this film at home and I was discouraged to continue watching it after Jake beat his wife, Beth during his party. However, I realized that perhaps this film's point was to show the effects of alcohol and domestic violence and abuse. Despite the strong theme of the film, I did not like it in the end, since it all went downhill for me when Grace killed herself.

Overall, this film was about the Maori culture, violence, and how alcohol can cause changes in character. For example, when sober, Jake seems like a friendly person but after drinking, he becomes  a blood thirsty monster who lashes out in the blink of an eye. According to their children, they have their good and bad times. Their parents are friendly and in love for some time but when alcohol is introduced, Jake turns into a brutal monster. However, Beth also has a temper and it is also caused by alcohol. Sadly of course, it is not only the mother who suffers in this type of household, their children suffer too. The oldest son, Nig, moves out of the house and joins a gang who are influenced by the Maori culture. For example, after being initiated and welcomed by the gang, he gets a facial tattoo that represents his mother's Maori heritage. Then the second son, Boogie is taken away and placed in a foster home. Then the older daughter, Grace represents hope throughout the film. She is very optimistic even when their parents are fighting, as she says that people show their true feelings when drunk. When she meets her friend, Toot, she talks about not wanting to get married because she does not want to be like her mother and take beatings from her husband.

However, after Grace is raped by one of Jake's bar friends, everything takes a turn for the worse. She cannot tell anyone because she assumes her mother would advice her to forget about it while her father would most likely think she deserved it. In the end, the girl is overwhelmed with fear and anger that she hangs herself. Beth is heartbroken as well as the rest of her family, and she takes Grace's body to a traditional Maori funeral ceremony. The next scene was out of character for Beth because after she reads Grace's diary and learns of the rape, she confronts Jake and accuses him for bringing such a crowd to the house. The loss of a child, encourages her to confront her husband without fear. Of course, having Nig next to her was a plus. Jake reacts like he normally would and severely beats Uncle Bully, the rapist. Beth still blames Jake and tells him that she will leave the house with their children and return to her Maori village. In the end, Jake is left alone.

This film tackles the following problems: poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence.