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WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED?
New Zealand, 1999, 103 minutes, Colour.
Temuera Morrison, Clint Eruera, Rena Owen.
Directed by Ian Mune.
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted is based on the novel by Alan Duff. It is a sequel to Once Were Warriors, the celebrated New Zealand film of 1994. Once Were Warriors won awards everywhere with its powerful look at Maoris living in suburban Auckland, the struggles within families, the effect of alcoholism and unemployment, the importance of going back to traditional Maori religious and cultural roots.
The film made an international actor of Temuera Morrison who had appeared in New Zealand films and in New Zealand soaps. Rena Owen also made a powerful impact.
The first film was directed by Lee Tamahori, this film directed by veteran Ian Mune. It lacks the power of Once Were Warriors, focusing, as it does, on Jake’s journey. This gives Temuera Morrison a chance for a tour-de-force performance, following up his estrangement from his wife Beth (Rena Owen) and his struggles with his son. The film continues the portrait of the struggle of urban Maoris in late 20th century New Zealand.
1. The expectations of the film, as a sequel to Once Were Warriors? The similarities? The differences? The Maori themes, family and race issues? The style of treatment?
2. The film in itself, the portrait of Jake, within his cultural context, in Auckland? His relationship with his wife, with his son? His own spirituality journey?
3. The authentic atmosphere of Auckland and the suburbs, the areas where Maori families live? The world of drinking and pubs? Work? The work sites? The gangs? The musical score and the songs?
4. The song and its use as the title of the film? Indication of themes?
5. Jake’s story, audience knowledge of him in the past, his character, in the family, his cultural traditions, his drink, his violence? Audience sympathies or not? The screenplay giving sufficient information about him? The past relationship with Beth, their struggles, bringing up the family, his drinking and violence? Sonny and his reaction to his father?
6. The portrait of Jake, in himself, tough, continually angry? The rages and bashings? Yet the light touch, his humour, singing? His relationship with Rita, sexual?
7. Jake and his relationship to Nig Heke, to Tanya? The fights? The shooting? The reasons?
8. The information for Jake, the cook, anger? Maori bullshit? His going, Sonny’s anger, Beth coming, her thanks?
9. His being excluded, the fighting at the new place, the friends and the car breakdown? The jug hunt? The work site and the party? His getting better?
10. Tanya and the sign at the funeral, motivation, relationship? The gangs, the robbery, the plan? In herself, her story?
11. The portrait of Sonny, his relationship with his father? Mook and his support, with the comic touches? The relationship with Tanya? Joining the gang? The bashing, the money, disillusionment?
12. The gangs and their ethos, the reasons for the gangs in Auckland, the young men, lack of work, angers? The leaders and their codes? The effect of prison, changing characters? The possibility of help?
13. The shooting and its aftermath?
14. Beth, her absence from the film, her relationship with Jake, fond memories, harsh memories? Her visit? Jake and Beth, the drive, the pursuit? Hurt? The death? Fighting to save their son?
15. The New Zealand of the 1990s, the city, the place of the Maoris? The Maori traditions, cultural? Oppression? Maoris as warlike people? in themselves, the gangs, angers? The humane hopes of this film for the future?