| Utu | |
| Starring: |
|
| Director: | Geoff Murphy |
| Producer: | Geoff Murphy |
| Cinematography: | Graeme Cowley |
| Editing: | Michael J. Horton |
| Music: | John Charles |
| Runtime: | 104 minutes |
| Language: |
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| Country: | New Zealand |
| Gross: | NZ$600,000 (est) (New Zealand)[1] |
Utu is a 1983 New Zealand war film about the New Zealand Wars. Co-written and directed by Geoff Murphy, the films stars Anzac Wallace, Bruno Lawrence, Tim Eliott, Ilona Rodgers, Wi Kuki Kaa and Merata Mita, and depicts the story of a Māori warrior who sets out on a quest for "utu" (revenge). Inspired by the events of Te Kooti's War, the film is set in 1870 in the North Island and has been described as a New Zealand Western.
The film, which had one of the largest budgets for a New Zealand film when it was produced, screened out of competition at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival, and became the second most successful locally-made movie released in New Zealand after being released in theatres.[2] Positive reviews of the film from American critics, include a rave view from Pauline Kael, helped to gain Murphy directing opportunities in Hollywood. In 2013, partially thanks to the longtime existence of an alternative cut of the film aimed at international audiences which Murphy had never been happy with, he completed work on a restored and recut version. Titled Utu Redux, the recut version, premiered at a film festival in Wellington on 26 July 2013.
In 1870, Te Wheke (Anzac Wallace) is a Māori warrior who collaborates with the colony of New Zealand during the New Zealand Wars. When he comes across a village destroyed by colonial forces, Te Wheke recognises it as his birthplace and deserts the colonialists to wage an insurgency against them instead. After Te Wheke destroys the home of colonial officer Williamson (Bruno Lawrence) and kills his wife Emily, Williamson vows to hunt down Te Wheke and kill him personally. Concomitantly, Māori scout Wiremu (Wi Kuki Kaa) and veteran officer Lieutenant Scott (Kelly Johnson) also attempt to track Te Wheke down, using insurgency weapons and tactics despite the personal disapproval of their superior, Colonel Elliot (Tim Eliott).
Utu was one of the largest film productions to have taken place in New Zealand until that point. Its grand scale warranted the use of a large second unit, which again was rare in the context of a young New Zealand cinema industry.[3] Wallace prior to being cast as Te Wheke had some experience acting on television.
Murphy was interested in authenticity, trying to keep it as period-accurate as possible. To accomplish this many of the extras were local Maori and in order for Te Wheke's moko to look realistic, Anzac Wallace would spend 4 hours having it applied each day of shooting.[3]
The film's immediate reception was less positive than Murphy's earlier works, although still positive. Locally the film was very commercially successful, being New Zealand's second highest-grossing film at the time (behind Murphy's previous effort, Goodbye Pork Pie).
Critically the film had a mixed positive reception. Filmmaker Costa Botes noted that “Utus shotgun approach to the great New Zealand film ultimately leaves it feeling episodic and tangled". New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael however gave the film an exceptionally positive review, saying that "[Geoff Murphy] seems to be directing with a grin on his face, [...] the ferocity of these skirmishes and raids is played off against an Arcadian beauty that makes your head swim". Similarly Variety said "Murphy has produced powerful images and strong performances".[4]
The film prompted public discussion about New Zealand history. Film academic Roger Horrocks said "Utu was an uneven film but succeeded in stirring up more discussion of New Zealand history than any recent book has done".[4]
Quentin Tarantino in a 2016 interview with Radio New Zealand praised Utu as "hands down the best New Zealand movie of all time".[5]
The soundtrack was recorded by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir William Southgate.[6]