MURU, New Zealand, 2022. Starring Cliff Curtis, Jay Ryan, Manu Bennett, Simon Kessell, Tame Iti, Roimata Fox, Ria Paki, Poroaki Merritt-McDonald, Xavier Horan. Directed by Tearepa Kahi. 104 minutes. Rated MA (Strong violence).
This is a striking New Zealand drama, raising pressing issues of traditional Maori culture, colonial backgrounds, some paranoia, the role of political authorities and special police units. At the beginning, there is a statement that the police do not support the activities portrayed in the film. And we wonder what this could mean. In fact, the screenplay is fictitious but is grounded in three episodes, one in 1916, a shooting in 2000, a siege and pursuit in 2007, all victimising Maori people, and heavy-handed and violent intervention by the authorities.
It is something of a surprise when we see a local group climbing a mountain, holding a meeting, telling stories, local language, a boot camp for identity and survival skills, and a brash young man causing problems, Rusty (Merritt-McDonald). And then we see that this meeting, seemingly remote, is actually under surveillance from several hidden heat cameras. The leader, played by Tame Iti as himself, is suspected of subverting a group with the aim of killing the Prime Minister.
But, down the mountain, in the quiet village of Ruatoki, things seem calmer. We see Tash (played by internationally successful actor, Cliff Curtis) driving the local school bus as well as carefully attending to his ageing father who is on dialysis. And we learn that he is a member of a local police unit. In the meantime, Rusty has shown himself a rebel, smashing the glass windows of the bakery, but under the care of his parents – but the authorities taking this as further evidence of rebellious action. And, when he is seen on horseback with a broom, going to clean up the mess at Tash’s request, the surveillance team interpret that he has a weapon and pursue him.
There are complications, misunderstandings, continuous police surveillance, phone calls to Wellington to the Minister (who is aggressive and face-saving at the same time), and the introduction of the STG, the New Zealand police Special Tactics Group, led by the earnest Gallagher (Ryan), who has struggles with his strict sense of duty and some human compassion, unlike his aggressive, trigger-happy associate, Kimiora (Bennett). Also involved is Tash’s police associate, Blake (Ria Paki), Maria who is on the surveillance squad, Rusty’s parents who are driving him after he is shot for treatment by the local travelling doctor.
Most audiences will easily identify with Tash, his sense of duty, his pleasing care of the children on the bus who are left stranded, his upset when his father is taken by the police, his concern for Rusty, his finally being arrested, put on a pursuit helicopter with Gallagher and Kimiora as they chase Rusty. And some unexpected drama ensues.
While there is some underlying anger in the treatment of these unjust memories about the people, the police, government authorities, the film just develops its characters, their interactions, voicing the concerns, and presents the action crises so that the audience becomes involved and has sufficient grounds for making their judgements about what happened – and the ever-present tragedies in racial prejudice and aggression.
Rialto
Released 13 October
Images: Top: Taffy (Cliff Curtis) confronts Stg Renata (Xavier Horan). Above (clockwise from top left): Children (Tamariki); poster; Tame Iti (Tame Iti) on quad bike leading group on horseback; Taffy (Cliff Curtis) on horseback; and Maria (Simone Kessell). - Muru 2022 © Jawbone Pictures, Wheke Group Limited.