WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED? (M). (Polygram/Universal) Director: Ian Mune Stars: Temuera Morrison, Clint Ereura, Nancy Brunning, Pete Smith, Rena Owen, Edna Stirling, Tammy Davis, Julian Arahanga, Lawrence Makoare, Anaru Grant, Warwick Morehu Running time: 100 minutes.
One of New Zealand's most successful films, Once Were Warriors was a powerful, harrowing and unforgettable movie experience. It explored themes of cultural disintegration, and the destructive, pervasive machismo culture of a once proud warrior race now depressingly shaped by alcoholism, domestic violence, bar brawls and gang warfare. This eagerly anticipated sequel also taps into the double edged reality of contemporary New Zealand, but is somehow less impressive. Nonetheless, What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted? is still quite powerful and compelling.
Whereas the original focused on the abused Beth and her courageous struggle, this new film concentrates on the character of Jake (Temeura Morrison) and his path towards redemption. Morrison has a frightening and intense screen persona which dominates the screen. His volatile and unpredictable performance seems to explode off the screen, but he also manages to bring a touch of compassion to the role. Rena Owen brings dignity and intelligence to her smaller role as the long suffering Beth, and proves once again that she was the emotional core of the original.
When the film opens, Jake is alienated from his family. A bar brawl in the opening minutes reveals that he hasn't changed his violent ways. He is involved with Rita (Edna Stirling), the new woman in his life, but when she witnesses his unpredictable and violent rages, she shies away. When his son Nig (Julian Arahanga, briefly reprising his role) is killed in a gang clash, much of the family's anguish and anger is directed at Jake. His son Sonny (Clint Eruera) wants revenge on the gangs, but Jake refuses to become involved.
Sonny joins forces with Nig's girl friend Tania (Nancy Brunning) and infiltrates a rival gang hoping to seek revenge. But things don't work out as planned, and Jake is forced to step into the breach and use his street brawling skills to save his son and finally begin the process of healing old family rifts.
Again written by Alan Duff, this sequel retreads some familiar themes, but it also pushes the material in new directions. The film has some very powerful and evocative scenes, but the final climax is marred by some excessive, Mad Max-like violence and carnage. Director Ian Mune, a veteran of New Zealand's film and theatre industry, has set the film in some of the sleaziest looking areas of Auckland, which gives the film a sense of gritty reality.
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted? exposes a seedier view of contemporary urban New Zealand and its gang culture, but somehow its nihilistic vision occasionally lacks credibility. Many of the characters here also seem one dimensional and the drama ultimately lacks the depths and emotional pull of the original.
*** greg king http://www.netau.com.au/gregking
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