Dvd
Rain of the Children
Vincent Ward's film unravels and re-imagines the story of Puhi, the Tuhoe woman he documented in 1978 for his early film In Spring One Plants Alone. Then she was 80 and caring for her schizophrenic adult son, and Ward was 21, a young art student capturing her way of life. While not the subject of his earlier film, Puhi believed herself to be cursed, and this unknowable curse is what preoccupies Ward now.
Puhi, he discovers, was chosen by Tuhoe prophet Rua Kenana to marry his son, she survived the 1916 police raid on Rua's Maungapohatu community and went on to have 14 children. Cutting between early footage, his own to-camera narration, contemporary interviews with Tuhoe descendents, and recreated historical sequences; Ward reveals both the heartrending background of Puhi's belief in the curse, and her lasting power over him. [Source: Sydney Film Festival 07]
Starring Miriama Rangi, Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Taungaroa Emile, Waihoroi Shortland, Toby Morehu, Mahue Tawa, Mikaira Tawhara, Harmony Wihapi
Directed by Vincent Ward ('River Queen', 'What Dreams May Come', 'Map of the Human Heart', 'The Navigator', 'Vigil')
Written by Vincent Ward
Documentary, Drama | 1hr 42mins | Rated (M) | violence, offensive language | Origin: New Zealand
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Flicks review
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The subject of this film is Puhi; a spirited, fascinating and very endearing old lady. A hunched and haunted figure, with a face you could look at for hours; you very quickly get the impression Puhi - or 'Nanny' - has had a hell of a life. We are introduced to her in her eighties, living an insular existence in the Urewera Ranges near Gisborne and still caring for her schizophrenic adult son Niki (who is no less intriguing). This strange and tense family unit was also the subject of Ward's short documentary In Spring One Plants Alone, made 30 years ago. Puhi died shortly after that, but since then director Vincent Ward has harboured a hunch - that a dark undercurrent he observed held a much bigger story. Compelled, he revisits the subject in the brilliant Rain of the Children.
And find out more he does, unearthing a very tragic tale. Puhi (who would eventually have 14 children in total) was ordained to marry the son of Maori prophet Rua Kenana. Stately and long haired, Rua Kenana attempted to revitalise his people after the New Zealand Wars. He called himself the Messiah, likening their plight to that of the Israelites. He created an amazing settlement that housed up to 1,000 followers at Maungapohatu, which he called 'New Jerusalem'. Puhi's life - her husbands, her children's tragic fate and the subsequent belief in a curse - is weaved through these historic times.
I mention all this, because I was so intrigued with the story and found it hugely insightful. The characters and the historical backdrop are just so damn interesting.
The film uses a whirlwind of archival footage, photographs, awesome re-enactments (in which Ward's unique visual flair is on show), and interviews with descendants and historians. Ward may be guilty of over-playing things, or forcing a narrative. For instance, Puhi's 'narration' voiced by Rena Owen sits uneasily and seems to put words in Puhi's mouth (especially when juxtaposed against actual footage of her). But such irks are only slight distractions to the film's bold and imaginative presentation. Like the audience enjoys discovering this story, Ward is enjoying telling it. He unfurls it like a campfire tale, and it's consistently captivating.
Rain of the Children corners and captures a specific part of history and, perhaps more importantly, a specific part of our culture that isn't obvious nor well known. I've been recommending it to everyone.
By Paul Scantlebury, Flicks.co.nz
The Peoples voice
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Heart-wrenching
5
Beautifully done and pulled at the heart-strings. A film like this is few and far between and I could watch this film over and over again.
By Tania
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Gloomy and exploitive
1
A disappointing movie from a film-maker reknowned for his dark portrayals of the landscape and people in New Zealand Aotearoa. Vincent over-dramatises almost every scene with dingy grainy footage that does nothing to capture the beauty of the Urewera's or the people who live there. As somebody who grew up in rural landscapes, very like the ones that appear in this film, I was dismayed but not surprised to see that Vincent Ward has once again managed to extract the worst in everything that he sees and force his dispiriting view on subjects and audience alike. In one scene after he has visited and filmed Puhi, he leaves the poor woman so distraught that she is reduced to chopping wood against the grain in a state of dejected melancholy. Where many New Zealanders who have lived rural lifestyles might have felt a sense of nostalgia for the old houses, huts and enamel utensils that Ward attempts to film - Ward somehow succeeds in removing all vestiges of rustic charm and replaces fond memories with bleak and cruel renditions bathed in tinted film stock that filters out all traces of warmth. Be warned - "Rain of the Children" is depressing. Perhaps as a film student Ward was inspired by miserable renditions of Van Gogh's life story and thought to style himself as an equally miserable artist. Such a pity that he chose imagery more befitting Edward Munch than Van Gogh's warm rich canvases that generally featured far more cosy tones in spite of hardship.
By Rural kid
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psychiatrists take heed
5
everyone who works in health would benefit greatly from this movie, in all my years of training and the experiences ive had as a mental health nurse there are so many of our people who are misinterpretted, misjudged, misdiagnosed and mistreated, a truly beautifully captured film to be proud of, the best
By ria akuata
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5
I hear korero about this nanny of ours, she had this aura of wairua (spirituality) about her. We as children from Whakarae and Matahi knew she had mana and was a rangatira to us. She was humble and said very few words if not, nothing, she had this giggle hard to describe, which we thought was I must say stupid. She growled or waved her stick when kids laughed or teased Niki. Vincent Ward's research may have not been to what people expected but Puhi Kuia's normal life to us is just what we knew of her, he did good. Tumeke for bringing our nanny to life.
By Thelma Poti
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tears still flowing
5
I loved the story so much, it brought me to tears. I could watch that over and over,there was nothing wrong with the movie, it was the perfect life documentary...ps is more coming.......................i hope so
By Isabell Lucy Walding
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Mihi Nui Ki a Koe vincent
5
I am amazed at the talent and depth of understanding Vincent Ward has used to make such an inspiring and captivating film.
It is hard for different cultures to fully understand each others world views but i praise vincent ward for the courage it took to keep investigating the matter and furthermore for understanding our people and bringing such an epic story to life.
By Ripeka
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Only the strongest ...
5
You are given only what you can carry ... and only the strong carry the heaviest of burdens ... to carry such burdens ... to endure the heaviest of heartaches ... requires the strength only found in the very few ... and if these burdens had to be borne ... then surely they could only be borne by the strongest ... they may have bent you … but they did not break you ... you labored without rest ... you suffered without reason of why ... I saw not the bent and broken … or the withered and weak ... in the lines etched by time and trials ... I read the story of strength and courage ... of love and sacrifice ... of a life lived for others ... You are given only what you can carry ... until you need not carry any more ...
By Roimata
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Kua tau te rangimarie ...
5
In March 09 I came across an article in a back issue of Mana magazine ... it was the first I had heard of this movie ... I read the article serveral times ... it distracted me from my mahi ... I was moved by the article ... I was captured by the movie ... I am in awe for this kuia, of her strength of courage to have indured the trials that besit her ... Kia koe Vincent, kia ora mo to mahi rangahau me to whakaahua, he tino taonga tenei ... ki te whanau o Puhi, me te whanau o Tuhoe hoki he mihi aroha ki a koutou. Kia koe Puhi, hoki atu ki au tamariki me to whanau kua pahure, kei te okioki koe kei raro i te korowai o te aroha, kia tau te rangimarie ...
By Roimata
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Awesome
5
I loved this movie so much. I learnt so much from it how my people used to live and ho Rua Kenana provided for the Tuhoe people.
By Pirihira Waaka
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The best kiwi film of 2008
5
A really great insight into our history, and our national identity. Well done.
By Ricky
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Rain of the Children
5
THIS IS THE BEST MOVIE YET AWESOME EFFORT TO ALL THE ACTORS WELL DONE
By Nika Rua
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TAUKE!!!!!
5
What an awesome depiction of this moment in time - very, very clever...I loved it - the only form of not so good feedback was Renas voice overs- I didn't think that it did Puhi justice and somehow I found the accent really grating - but, once I got over that...........well, what can I say. After the movie finished, the lights were on and the screen blank - everyone in the theatre sat in sheer silence for a good 5 mins - that's always a good sign of the impact a movie has had on people - yes I am going again and yes, I will buy it when it comes out on DVD.....Ki a koutou te Whanau o Tuhoe - nga uri o Puhi - tino mihi mahana hoki ki a koutou mo tenei atu nei taonga. Ae, tika te korero - MEAN MAORI MEAN!!!!!!!
By Kiu - T.
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FINALLY
WELL BY THE LOOKS OF IT, IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT MOVIE
THEY SHOULD PUT SOMETHING ON BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT ABOUT
MAORI PEOPLE BUT TUHOE.I HAVE NOT SEEN IT BUT I WISH TO SEE IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHEN IM NOT BUSY!
MEAN MAORI MEANBy MEAN MAORII CHIK
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Tuhoe descendant
5
I have not yet seen the movie but i am proud that therre is finally a movie about our people back home.He mihi tinonui kia koutou! Also kia ora to Mahue Tawa he is my Uncle.
By Karina Bishop-Manihera
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Beautiful
5
This should have opened the NZ film festival! Knowing nothing about Ward's earlier film, nor the historical backdrop of this story - i found it hugely insightful and endlessly fascinating.
Make sure you catch it.By Peter
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Rain of theChildren
5
Thoroughly enjoyed it. To us growing up on Whakarae this nanny was another one of our nannies. Our uncle did not have a mental illness, that is a Pakeha label. He was porangi.
By thelma rua poti
Press Reviews
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Hollywood Reporter
In the stunning docu-drama "Rain of the Children," New Zealand-born filmmaker Vincent Ward revisits the past to unravel a mystery that's niggled at him for three decades. Here meticulous research reveals the family secrets burdening the stooped old Maori woman who was, in fact, the subject of Ward's 1978 observational film "In Spring One Plants Alone." It's a masterful companion piece -- a kind of marathon director's cut -- but it also stands alone as a haunting historical epic. "Rain" is guaranteed a warm art house reception.
Click to read the full review -
NZ Herald [Peter Calder]
4 4 out of 5 stars
In exploring the fascinating past of a character in one of his earlier films, director Vincent Ward gets in the way of his own storytelling.
Click to read the full review -
TV3 [Kate Rodger]
3 3 out of 5 stars
1/2 Ward narrates his story both on camera and in voice-over, and once I settled in and got used to that, I found the film a compelling watch.
Click to read the full review -
Variety [USA]
Compelling and heart-wrenching.
Click to read the full review
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