Tama Tū

Short Film (Full Length) – 2004

Parental Guidance

Six Māori Battalion soldiers camped in Italian ruins wait for night to fall. In the silence, the bros-in-arms distract themselves with jokes. A tohu (sign) brings them back to reality, and they gather to say a karakia before returning to the fray. Director Taika Waititi describes the soldiers as young men with "a special bond, strengthened by their character, their culture and each other." Shot in the rubble of the old Wellington Hospital, Tama Tū won international acclaim. Invited to over 40 international festivals, its many awards included honourable mentions at Sundance and Berlin.

(The film is) a tribute to all those soldiers of 28 Battalion who were lost and to the mana and lives of those who were not. It is a film made by us for them that we now take to the world in their honour.
– Tama Tū press kit

Key Cast & Crew

Jarod Rawiri

As: Māori Battalion Soldier

Tammy Davis

As: Māori Battalion Soldier

Taungaroa Emile

As: Māori Battalion Soldier

Rob Mokaraka

As: Māori Battalion Soldier

Te Kohe Tuhaka

As: Māori Battalion Soldier

Taika Waititi

Director, Writer

See all 23 credits

Produced by

Whenua Films

Source

New Zealand Film Commission

Acknowledgements

Executive produced by Karl Zohrab and Angela Littlejohn of Littlejab Pictures. Made in assocation with Park Road Post and the Short Film Fund of the New Zealand Film Commission.