Crooked Earth

When his father dies, soldier Will Bastion (Temuera Morrison) returns home after 20 years. Tradition dictates he take on the mantle of tribal chief, but he's not interested. His brother Kahu (Lawrence Makoare) seizes the opportunity, but he's a drug-dealer with grand plans to get stolen land back. Worried about Kahu's provocative approach, Will must choose whether to face off against his brother. Melding horseback action and indigenous land rights, Crooked Earth marked the first NZ film for director Sam Pillsbury since 1987's Starlight Hotel. Variety called it "handsomely mounted and compelling".

It's an entertaining adventure film with a lot of ambition ... There are emotional hakas, stand-offs of the Māori persuasion and a stunt that is contrived but spectacular ... Director Sam Pillsbury is to be applauded for his enthusiasm, but Crooked Earth was uneven territory.

– Charles Fairbairn, in Capital Times, 29 August 2001, page 6

Key Cast & Crew

Sam Pillsbury

Director

Lawrence Makoare

As: Kahu Bastion

Temuera Morrison

As: Will Bastion

Robin Scholes

Producer

Waihoroi Shortland

Writer, Māori Cultural Consultant

Greg McGee

Writer