RIVER QUEEN

New Zealand, 2005, 114 minutes, Colour.
Samantha Morton, Kiefer Sutherland, Cliff Curtis, Temuera Morrison, Anton Lesser.
Directed by Vincent Ward.

River Queen was directed by Vincent Ward who initiated the story and co-wrote the screenplay. However, tensions arose on the set and he was sacked from the film for some time, finally returning to it. In the meantime, his director of photography, Alun Bollinger, directed the film.

The film did not receive wide release. However, it is an interesting contribution to the 19th century history of New Zealand. Films about that period include The Piano and Geoff Murphy’s Utu.

The film focuses on a young woman, her father being a military man in an outpost in New Zealand. She is attracted towards a young Maori man, bears a child, he dies of illness, the Maori grandfather abducts the boy. She searches for him for many years. The context is the Maori wars and she becomes involved, healing the chief, attracted towards one of his men, meanwhile in contact with the British leader (Anton Lesser) and a friendly Irish soldier (Kiefer Sutherland).

The film shows some of the battles, very small-scale but significant, and the tactics used by the Maoris and the British. The film was also the story of legend – the legend of the River Queen, her Irish and English background, her involvement with the Maoris, the battles, her survival.

Samantha Morton is strong in the role. Kiefer Sutherland is persuasively Irish. Veteran New Zealand actors Cliff Curtis and Temuera Morrison (Once Were Warriors) are strong screen presences. Stephen Rea has a cameo as Samantha Morton’s father.

Vincent Ward has directed few films: Vigil, The Navigator (AFI awards for best film and director), Map of the Human Heart, What Dreams May Come.

1.The New Zealand background, story, interest, history, questions, themes and issues?

2.The photography of the locations, the coast, the interiors, the rivers and mountains? The use of highly bright colours? The musical score?

3.The contribution to an understanding of New Zealand history, the outpost of empire, the colonial attitudes, the role of the Maoris, the invasion of the land, some Maoris siding with the British for survival, the opponents? A 21st century interpretation of this history?

4.The title, the focus on Sarah, as daughter, as wife, as mother? As healer? A mystery woman? The legend?

5.The credits, the scrolls and the lettering in the water, beginning and end, the voice-over from Sarah, telling her story, interpreting it, talking of the effect of writing the story and the possibility of healing?

6.Sarah, growing up in the outpost, relationship with her father, his tough attitudes, her pregnancy and his disdain, helping with the birth? His leaving with Sarah’s sister, her never seeing them again? Her attraction to the Maori boy, fathering her child, his premature death?

7.The British and their attitudes, the Maoris pro and con? Baine as the British, leader, his colonial attitude, severity, the letter of the law, the expeditions, the brutality, the shootings? Wiremu and his help? Moving away? The cousin and his remaining with the British?

8.The portrait of the Maoris, the different groups, the grandfather, the importance of the tattoos? The grandfather taking the young boy, Sarah’s grief, the English and the grandfather being shot? The tensions within the family?

9.The years of search, Sarah being alone, the frustration, the details of her life, wandering, her skills? The healing of the chief, his gratitude, the new name, the effect, the beginning of the legend?

10.Her finding her boy, his anger with her, saying that she did not search for him? His hostility, being with the Maoris, his choices? Involved in the military? With the chief? With Wiremu?

11.Wiremu and his character, his life, with the British, with the chief, support, his love for Sarah, rescuing the boy? Being shot, survival, the family?

12.The portrait of the battles, the explanation of the strategies, the Maori trenches, the slaughter, the bayonet woundings? The boy and his danger, his escape?

13.Doyle, Irish background, in action, genial, friendship with Sarah, friendship with the boy? With the army, in action, his stances, injuries, saving the boy, Sarah saving him, tending him, his death? Being laid out?

14.Sarah and the war, the involvement, her attitudes, concerns, her care for Doyle? For Wiremu Curtis?

15.Baine and his plans, searching for Sarah? Going up the river? The confrontation with Curtis, with the boy? Wounding and shooting Sarah?

16.The escape, the three and their survival, the voice-over and the legend?