Once Were Warriors

The film tells the story of the Heke family, an urban Māori whānau living in South Auckland, and their problems with poverty, tobacco, gambling, drugs, alcoholism, and domestic violence, mostly brought on by the patriarch, Jake "The Muss" Heke. It explores the detrimental effects of the colonisation of New Zealand suffered by Māori, and the survival of Māori culture against all odds. Beth, played by Rena Owen, is a strong mother who tries to save herself and her children from Jake's violent behavior. The family's struggles lead to tragedy, including a daughter's suicide, which ultimately sparks a change in Beth's life as she finds the strength to resist Jake's control and reconnect with her Māori heritage.