Mahana

Inspired by Witi Ihimaera book Bulibasha, director Lee Tamahori made his first film on local soil since 1994's Once Were Warriors. Temuera Morrison plays a 50s era patriarch who leads his whanāu in a bitter rivalry with another shearing family. When romance enters the picture, son Simeon investigates how the feud first began. The strong Māori cast includes Nancy Brunning (interviewed above) and Jim Moriarty. Mahana debuted at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival under the title The Patriarch, before Kiwi release. The clips include an excerpt, interviews with cast and crew, and behind the scenes material. 

It's very rare for people to return, let alone to a film with a much lower budget than anything he’s done, since Warriors. We have Witi [Ihimaera] to thank for this. His book, Bulibasha, really appealed to Lee because it’s about the people he knows and loves and wants to see portrayed on film.

– Producer Robin Scholes on director Lee Tamahori, in a 27 May 2015 press release

Key Cast & Crew

Janine Dickins

Producer

Lee Tamahori

Director

Temuera Morrison

As: Tamihana Mahana

Witi Ihimaera

Original Author, Associate Producer

Robin Scholes

Producer

Nancy Brunning

As: Ramona Mahana