Sunday, June 8, 2008
Rain of the Children
Attended the premier of Vincent Ward's new movie Rain of the Children here in Sydney last night. It is a brilliant work. A docu-drama where Ward goes back to the subject of one of his first works. The images of Puhi (the special/chosen one) and the story of her life will be with me for weeks. I recommend that you ask for this remarkable movie at your film festivals, and if you have the chance go to see it. Read more about it following the link above and here.
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2 comments:
I think Rain of the Children is more about the naivete of VIncent Ward than it is about Puhi or about Tuhoe. It presents a picture of Tuhoe as primitative and justifies cruel and barbaric behaviour in terms of the Tuhoe believing people were cursed. A fourteen year old is forced into marriage, at sixteen her child is taken from her and this is all ok. Later she grows old and is ostacised by her isolated and rural community who are in a disinterested way do not step in to assist her in ways which one would expect. It is treated as ok that in a tiny town she uses her pension to catch a taxi to see her son in a mental hospital, that at 80 she chops wood, carries water, etc. Following her death her mentally ill son - no genius required to see this - but in the film is presented as "curses" an easy out to excuse inhuman treatment from his hapu and whanau. A brave warrior TAME ITI who travels the world watches for 3 days as the poor guy wrapped in newspaper lies by the river. Until I saw this film I admired Rua kenana and Tuhoe. If what is depicted reflects the actions and thoughts of local Tuhoe then I think "Shame on Tuhoe". I hope it does not but I am unsure about the people who let their voices be heard in the movie and those Tuhoe who attended the screenings of the movie and appeared to see it as something to be proud of.
Thanks for your comments. I didn't think the movie necessarily said all the things you mention are OK. It brought into the open some things that have not been spoken before. Seeing the movie helped me to develop a more comprehensive picture of Rua and Ringatu. I do appreciate the limitations and the selective use of advice from local Tuhoe in the making of both movies.
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