A $4 million epic made with $0 in cultural insurance — watch the chaos unfold.
Making of documentary on the set of New Zealand's first epic Utu (1983), working with little money and dealing respectfully with matters of cultural protocol. Merata Mita discusses complex issues of inter-cultural conflict.
Direction
Preston captures Murphy's chaotic genius without mythologizing.
Production
No stunt doubles, no insurance, pure 1983 Kiwi ingenuity.
Writing
Merata Mita's commentary — devastating, essential, ahead of its time.
Director
Gaylene Preston
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Merata Mita's presence here is historic — one of the first Māori women documenting her own critiques of Pākehā filmmaking from inside the machine.
Lee Tamahori appears here as a humble crew member; a decade later he'd direct Once Were Warriors, completing the circle of Māori cinematic reclamation.
NZ
