Musician, actor, son, friend and student of te reo Māori among them, Two Worlds weaves together the various strands of Marlon William’s experience – as he reflects on his career so far and the challenges and pleasures of articulating his worldview in te reo Māori.
Marlon’s journey is situated within the bicultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand at what is a tense moment in the nation’s history. In Marlon’s voice and art, one hears echoes of the musical traditions that have sustained and nurtured him: the buzzing marae, the classical training that refined his powerful voice, the country and folk genres in which he first found critical success. And in Marlon’s story, we can see the outline of Aotearoa New Zealand’s, as the country seeks to unify its fractious history into a cohesive future.
All the while, the film – in keeping with Marlon’s laid-back personality – never takes itself too seriously, never forgetting that, at heart, this is a story of joyful self-discovery. And that is always something to celebrate.
