Watch Utu

Utu is a powerful and epic drama set in the 1870s amidst the backdrop of the New Zealand Wars. The film tells the story of Te Wheke, a Maori scout who returns home from the Battle of Gate Pā to find that his village has been destroyed and his people murdered by the British soldiers he was fighting alongside. Fueled by rage and revenge, Te Wheke sets out on a mission to find and kill the men responsible for the massacre.

Anzac Wallace gives a commanding performance in the lead role of Te Wheke, a man consumed by grief and anger at the loss of his people. Wallace brings an intensity to his portrayal of Te Wheke, a man whose actions are driven by both personal tragedy and a deep sense of loyalty to his tribe. He is a powerful presence onscreen, commanding attention even in his quieter moments.

Opposite Wallace is Bruno Lawrence, who plays Colonel Elliott, the British officer who led the attack on Te Wheke's village. Lawrence gives a nuanced performance as the conflicted Elliott, a man who is torn between loyalty to his country and a growing sense of unease about the brutality of the war he is fighting. His scenes with Wallace crackle with tension, as the two men circle each other in a deadly dance of revenge.

Tim Elliott rounds out the main cast as Wiremu, Te Wheke's friend and fellow warrior. Although his role is smaller than Wallace or Lawrence's, Elliott brings depth and humanity to the character of Wiremu. He acts as a calming influence on Te Wheke, and his scenes with Wallace showcase a deep bond between the two men.

Director Geoff Murphy imbues the film with a sense of grandeur, filming the sweeping New Zealand landscapes in gorgeous wide shots that give the film a sense of scale and epicness. The action scenes are brutal and visceral, with Murphy sparing no expense in depicting the violence of war in all its bloody detail.

But although the film is undeniably a war movie, it is also a deeply personal one. The theme of revenge that drives Te Wheke's actions runs throughout the film, and is explored in both its positive and negative aspects. While Te Wheke's pursuit of vengeance is understandable given the atrocities he has witnessed, the film ultimately raises questions about the effectiveness of revenge and the cost of violence.

Utu is a film that defies easy categorization. It is a war movie, but it is also a meditation on grief, revenge, and the complexities of human relationships. It is a film that asks difficult questions about the nature of violence and the cycle of revenge, and it does so with a rawness and honesty that is both unnerving and compelling.

Overall, Utu is a haunting and unforgettable film that explores some of the darkest aspects of human nature. Anchored by powerful performances from its lead actors and directed with an eye for both spectacle and emotion, it is a film that lingers long after the end credits have rolled.