New Zealand „The Wonder Country“ that is the title of Margaret McClures book published in Auckland 2004. In her book McClure describes the fascinating landmarks and tourist sites of New Zealand.
In contrast to that Lee Tamahori designs a rather sober picture of New Zealand and its
aboriginal citizens decendants respectively, the Maori, with his film adaption of Allan Duffs „Once were warriors“. Already in 1990 Duffs novel was traded as highly controversial and bestselling. Tamahoris adaption of this novel won more than 15 international film awards. The seven-man family is about to collapse since the father Jake „The Muss“ Heke is alcohol addicted and once again lost his job at the beginning of the movie. Since eighteen years he constantly beats up his wife Beth Heke when he is drunk. Although the two youngest children seem to be untouched by the miserable family background, the eldest son Nig joins a gang. His younger brother Marc, also known as Boogie, becomes re-offended when he is caught prising a car again. In the course of his misbehaviour he is sent to an approved school. Just the oldest daughter, Grace, seems to have a future since she succeeds in school and writes short stories. However, as it ought to turn out the family is shattered by the rape of Grace and her suicide. Not until its revealed that a friend of Jake, Bully, who calls himself Grace' uncle, raped Grace Beth draws the conclusion to leave Jake. The movie was published in Germany under the name „Die letzte Kriegerin“ with a distinct focus on the main character Beth Heke. It was often discussed whether this titel fits the movie and hits the essence of the film. Therefore this paper concentrates on the representation of women within the movie to answer the question wether the title „Die letzte Kriegerin“ matchs the impression the viewers get of Beth Heke. Therefore it seems to be indispensable to take a close look at the characters development of Beth. Moreover it seems to be evident to have a look at Grace and her life respectively her perspective and her individual conveniences in comparison to the lifes of her older brothers Nig and Marc. Finally it should succeed to answer the question why it was somehow necessary that Grace had to comit suicide before Beth left Jake. Moreover the circumstances of the different lifes have to be illuminated.
Finally it should succeed to state the reason why Duff portrayed the Maori community the was he did.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Portrayal of characters connected to their development in the movie
- 2.1 Beth Heke
- 2.2 Jake
- 2.3 Grace
- 3. The Tradition of Māori warriors
- 4. Duff's intention-conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the representation of women in Lee Tamahori's film adaptation of Allan Duff's novel, "Once Were Warriors," focusing on the main character, Beth Heke. The objective is to examine Beth's development and social role within her Māori community, comparing her experiences with those of her daughter, Grace. The analysis will explore whether the German title, "Die letzte Kriegerin" (The Last Warrior Woman), accurately reflects Beth's portrayal in the film.
- Representation of women in Māori society
- The impact of cultural traditions on family dynamics
- The consequences of alcohol abuse and domestic violence
- The portrayal of intergenerational conflict
- The author's intent in depicting the Māori community
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the film "Once Were Warriors" and its context. It contrasts the idealized portrayal of New Zealand in travel literature with the film's more realistic and sober depiction of Māori life in the urban setting of Auckland's Pine Blocks. The chapter establishes the film's controversial nature, its critical and commercial success, and introduces the Heke family, highlighting their dysfunctional dynamics rooted in Jake's alcoholism and violence. The introduction also states the paper's aim: to analyze the representation of women, particularly Beth Heke, and to assess the accuracy of the German film title, "Die letzte Kriegerin." The chapter lays the groundwork for a deeper investigation into the social roles of women and the complexities of Māori culture within the film's narrative.
2. Portrayal of characters connected to their development in the movie: This chapter delves into the character development of key figures in the film, beginning with an analysis of Beth Heke. The initial scenes establish Beth's appearance and demeanor, suggesting strength, yet also hinting at underlying vulnerabilities. The chapter examines Beth's complex relationship with Jake, highlighting the imbalance of power and the cyclical nature of domestic violence. It explores the roles of other characters, such as Jake, Grace, and the children, and how their actions contribute to the overall family dynamic and the societal context in which they live. This section will analyze the different struggles of each character and their impact on the overall narrative of the film.
Keywords
Once Were Warriors, Beth Heke, Māori women, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, family dynamics, cultural representation, New Zealand cinema, social commentary.
Frequently Asked Questions: Once Were Warriors - Academic Analysis
What is the purpose of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the portrayal of women in Lee Tamahori's film adaptation of Allan Duff's novel, "Once Were Warriors," focusing primarily on the character of Beth Heke. It examines her development and social role within her Māori community, comparing her experiences with those of her daughter, Grace. The analysis also assesses the accuracy of the German film title, "Die letzte Kriegerin" (The Last Warrior Woman).
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including the representation of women in Māori society, the impact of cultural traditions on family dynamics, the consequences of alcohol abuse and domestic violence, the portrayal of intergenerational conflict, and the author's intent in depicting the Māori community.
Which characters are analyzed in detail?
The paper focuses primarily on Beth Heke, the main female character. However, it also analyzes the roles and development of other key characters, such as Jake (Beth's husband) and Grace (Beth's daughter), and how their actions contribute to the overall family dynamic.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into several chapters: an introduction, a chapter focusing on character portrayal and development, a chapter on the tradition of Māori warriors, and a concluding chapter on the author's intentions. The provided preview also includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What is the context provided in the introduction?
The introduction contrasts the idealized portrayal of New Zealand in travel literature with the film's more realistic and sober depiction of Māori life in an urban setting. It establishes the film's controversial nature, its critical and commercial success, and introduces the dysfunctional Heke family, highlighting their struggles stemming from Jake's alcoholism and violence.
What is the significance of the German title, "Die letzte Kriegerin" (The Last Warrior Woman)?
The paper examines whether the German title accurately reflects Beth Heke's portrayal in the film, considering her strength and vulnerabilities within the context of her community and family life.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: Once Were Warriors, Beth Heke, Māori women, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, family dynamics, cultural representation, New Zealand cinema, and social commentary.
What kind of source material is this preview based on?
This is a comprehensive language preview containing OCR data obtained from a publishing company and is intended solely for academic use, for analyzing themes in a structured and professional manner.
- Citar trabajo
- Toni Rudat (Autor), 2007, The representation of women with a distinct focus on the main character Beth Heke in the movie "Once were warriors", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/78301
