8 x 10 minute sequences shot by eight individual female Maori filmmakers combine to form a narrative that weaves around the death of a young boy in a Māori community.

Eight female Māori directors worked together to produce this portmanteau film which offers a fascinating insight into Māori culture. The film comprises 8 x 10 minute segments, presented as a continuous shot in real time, unfolding around the funeral of a small boy who died at the hands of his caregiver. Waru means 8 in Māori. The vignettes are all subtly interlinked, each following one of eight female Māori lead characters as they come to terms with Waru’s death and try to find a way forward in their community.

Charm, Queen of the Kitchen – Charm learns to accept that she can’t change the world.

Anahera – A teacher struggles to keep face, hiding infidelities and guilt over Waru’s death.

Mihi – A solo parent learns to listen to her children.

Em – A young woman hits rock bottom and realises that the only way is up.

Ranui – A kuia relinquishes Iwi pride in order that her mokopuna might find spiritual peace.

Kiritapu – A young wahine Māori reporter risks everything to set the story straight.

Mere – A teenage girl draws strength from her ancestors to expose her abuser.

Titty & Bash – A woman risks life to break the cycle of violence.

Official Festival Selections:

New Zealand International Film Festival 2017

Toronto International Film Festival 2017

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2018

★★★★ – “a remarkable achievement – authentic, impassioned, unexpected – that stands as a testament to the radical power of cooperative film-making” — Mark Kermode, The Observer

★★★★ – “There’s something uniquely powerful about this portmanteau film made entirely by Māori women directors“— Katherine McLoughlin, The List

★★★ – “Waru lingers, disquietingly, in the mind” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

“a very, very brave and important piece of filmmaking” — Mark Kermode, BBC Radio 5  [01:49:34 – 01:52:06]

“eight carefully constructed vignettes combine into a powerful whole” — Nikki Baughan, Sight & Sound

“Where are you? the film asks… Waru also speaks presciently and powerfully to the current moment in film culture“ – So Mayer, Literal Magazine

“Confronting, compassionate and complex, Waru demands to be seen” — Dominic Corry, NZ Herald

“Why this Kiwi drama might just be the best movie of 2017” — Graeme Tuckett, Stuff

“Stylistic boldness and an implicit call to arms make Waru a breathtaking watch” — Peter Calder, Noted

Forthcoming Screenings:

1 Mar: Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle

6 Mar: An Lanntair, Stornoway

6 Mar: Cinema & Co, Swansea

6 Mar: Screen 25, South Norwood, London

8 Mar: Hexham Forum

8 Mar: Picturehouse Central, London

8 Mar: Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast

8 Mar: Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle

8 & 14 Mar: Depot, Lewes

12 Mar: Palace Cinema, Broadstairs

13 Mar: Storyhouse, Chester

1 Jul: Playhouse Cinema, Louth

Past Screenings:

12 Feb: Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda

10 Feb: Alhambra, Keswick

10 Feb: Alhambra, Penrith

3 Feb: Strode Theatre

28-31 Jan: Ilkley Cinema

28-29 Jan: South Hill Park, Bracknell

24 Jan: Reading Film Theatre

23 Jan: MAC, Birmingham

14 Jan: Saffron Screen, Saffron Walden

10 Jan: Galeri, Caernarfon

9 Jan: HOME, Manchester

7 & 10 Jan: The Ultimate Picture Palace, Oxford

18 Dec: Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds

14 Dec-23 Dec: Oban Phoenix

3 & 5 Dec: Dukes Cinema, Lancaster

30 Nov-6 Dec: Rio Cinema, London

29 Nov: Stoke Film Theatre

28 Nov-1 Dec: Plymouth Arts Centre                 

21-22 Nov: Phoenix, Leicester

17 Nov: Glasgow Feminist Arts Festival, Centre for Contemporary Arts

16-22 Nov: Watershed, Bristol  

16-22 Nov: Showroom, Sheffield

16 Sep, 3pm: Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle

6 Jul, 6.30pm: The Lexi Cinema, London – followed by panel discussion with Aperture Curator, Sonali Joshi, and So Mayer. So Mayer is the author of “Political Animals: The New Feminist Cinema”, and has written about Indigenous women’s and Two-Spirit filmmaking and writes for publications including Alphaville, Poetry Review, Literal and Sight & Sound.

23 Jun: Edinburgh International Film Festival

CREDITS: