Nau mai, haere mai – welcome to Mātaki Mai, Ōtautahi’s inaugural Māori Film Festival, presented by Kōrero ki Ōtautahi. Ko te reo Māori te take – the purpose of Mātaki Mai is to celebrate the indigenous language of Aotearoa and there’s no better time to do that than during te wiki o te reo Māori.
Ngā mihi maioha to our sponsors and supporters: HAPA, Locky Dock, Hayley Landreth, Te Taura Whiri o te reo Māori, Christchurch City Council and Alice Cinema, whom without, this would not have been possible.
Hei ākuanei – see you soon!
White Lies
New Zealand period drama based on the novella Medicine Woman by Witi Ihimaera, author of The Whale Rider. Stars Whirimako Black, Rachel House and Antonia Prebble.
Paraiti (Black) is the healer and midwife of her rural, tribal people. But new laws are in force prohibiting unlicensed healers. On a rare trip to the city, she is approached by Maraea (House), the servant of a wealthy woman, Rebecca (Prebble), who seeks her knowledge and assistance in order to hide a secret which will destroy Rebecca’s position in European settler society. If the secret is uncovered a life may be lost, but hiding it may also have fatal consequences, forcing a clash of beliefs, deception and ultimate salvation.
