In 1983 director Geoff Murphy stormed out of the scrub of the recently reborn New Zealand film industry with a quadruple-barreled shotgun take on the great Kiwi colonial epic. Set during the New Zealand Wars, this tale of a Māori leader (Anzac Wallace) and his bloody path to redress 'imbalance' was the second local film to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival. It was also the second biggest local hit to date (after Murphy's Goodbye Pork Pie). A producer-driven recut later screened in North America. This 2013 redux version is "enhanced and restored". After the excerpt, a short video explores Utu's rebirth.
I was excited and amazed by the restoration process. The work done by Weta Digital on bringing the picture back to life was spectacular. It now looks better than it did the day it was first shown. Park Road Post were no less brilliant in their re-mastering and enhancing of the soundtrack. It’s like a completely new experience — I am proud to have been associated with it.– Director Geoff Murphy on the 2013 version of Utu
Utu Productions
Utu Redux funded by the initial equity partners behind the original film
Thanks to the NZ Film Commission, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision and Park Road Post Production (who did all the technical restoration work)
Presented with thanks to the New Zealand Film Heritage Trust – Te Puna Ataata
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