In this episode Sonja has a korero with film director Mike Jonathan ( Waikato,Te Arawa,
Maatatua) about his feature film debut Ka Whawhai Tonu ( translated- Struggle Without End)
which is due to be released in so-called Australia from August 1st 2024.
It’s one of the first films with 95% spoken in Te Reo Maori, and with a predominantly Maori
cast and crew it’s a new milestone for cinema from Aotearoa and for Indigenous film globally.
Mike yarns about his many diverse influences for the epic film,from authentic historical
records on the battle of Orakau in the Waikato of Aotearoa in 1864 ( “in the film we are
depicting real ancestors” ) ,to the iconic cinematic masterpiece UTU made in 1980s NZ, to
being mentored by the legendary Wahine of indigenous film Merata Mita.
As Mike says: “ it’s probably the truest form of Maori in any sort of motion picture”.
Synopsis: ‘Set in Aotearoa New Zealand in 1864, KA WHAWHAI TONU tells the story of a
pivotal battle in the first New Zealand land wars in the Waikato region. A battle fought with
impossible odds between Māori and the Colonial forces. This heroic conflict is told through the
eyes of two young teenagers forced to take control of their own destiny amidst the chaos of the
battle and their escape.’
Ka Whawhai Tonu | Transmission Films
Listen in whanau to this precious korero with Mike Jonathan and your host Sonja on this
breakthrough film soon to screen in Australia, August 2024!
LINKS : Ka Whawhai Tonu (nzfilm.co.nz)
www.hakaboy.com