If you're in Aotearoa New Zealand, this can not fail to resonate, dealing as it does with events of living memory, the.police shooting of Steven Wallace in 2000, and the police raid on Ruaatoki in 2007, with echoes of the police raids on Maungapoohatu in 1916 and Parihaka in 1881. Unsurprisingly there is a police disclaimer at the beginning. There is no mention of the police apology for 2007 or reparations for 1881 and 1916 at the end.
But it is a fictionalisation, not a documentary reenactment. As such, it is compelling, and a classic noo-Aotearoa drama, up there with "Sleeping Dogs" and "Utu". Not so much "Once Were Warriors", it is largely in te reo Maaori (but with English subtitles) and firmly on the Maaori side. The Paakehaa (non-Maaori) case is not strongly made, and one in particular seems almost insane, but it is clear why they were suspicious. Their implausibly effective technology fails at dramatically convenient moments, so they miss the innocent explanations.
The story is told sequentially but jumping among several different locations. Cliff Curtis carries the drama as the community police officer torn among loyalties, police, community and family, while suspected of being a turncoat by both sides. Tame Iti as himself is more of a minor character, with occasional moments of Billy T James-esque comedy and one improbably dramatic moment.
An important element is the innocent bystanders (in fact all were innocent), the children and koroua (elders) caught up in the drama. It is they who tear your heartstrings at the end.
The film has uniquely sought and largely found the essence of Ngaai Tuuhoe, an iwi (tribe) that has done more than most to retain its language and traditions.
"Muru" traditionally means intra-familial ritual plunder as punishment for a misdeed. In modern usage it means forgiveness/absolution as in "Murua aa maatou hara" (forgive us our sins). It's not clear which it means here.
{I have used double vowels because this site wouldn't accept macrons. They are just lengthened, not broken up.)
