Utu
Seen it?1983 | 118 min | War, Adventure, Drama, History
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for adventure lovers and history buffs. A good one for when you want to be swept off somewhere else. Same wavelength as The Last of the Mohicans or Letters from Iwo Jima.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Character-first and patient, at 1 hr 58 min.
- What might put you off
- Not the one if you want explosions or easy laughs.
In New Zealand in the 1860s the native Māori people fought the British colonials to keep the land guaranteed to them by treaty. The warrior Te Wheke fights for the British until betrayal leads him to seek utu (revenge). The settler Williamson in turn seeks revenge after Te Wheke attacks his homestead. Meanwhile Wiremu, an officer for the British, seems to think that resistance is futile.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
Generally positive reviews
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$600K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 12K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Geoff Murphy
- Anzac WallaceTe Wheke
- Bruno LawrenceWilliamson
- Tim ElliottCol. Elliot
- Kelly JohnsonLt. Scott
- Wi Kuki KaaWiremu
- Ilona RodgersEmily
- Merata MitaMatu
- Faenza ReubenHersare
- John BachBelcher
- Tom PoataPuni