Waru

I was impressed by the way this film was made. Eight female indigenous directors created eight pieces that span the same 10 minute time period in a Maori community in New Zealand. The pieces are connected, some more than others, and all relate to the suspicious deaths of Maori children although that part is not fully explained. Actually, quite a lot is unexplained and I wished I had a Maori cultural expert to help me understand the context. Each piece focuses on one (or two) female Maori characters and is shot in a single take, requiring massive coordination of everyone involved. While the eight are all very different, they also come together into a whole, reflecting the collaborative effort of the directing group.

I liked it not as much for the story as for the characters. They represented the female experience in their society, the many forces affecting them, and their struggles.