Once Were Warriors is a powerful and poignant film that tells the story of a Maori family struggling to survive in the tough inner city neighborhood of South Auckland, New Zealand. The film opens with a dramatic and intense scene that sets the tone for the rest of the film and introduces us to the main characters of the story.
The opening scene of Once Were Warriors begins with a shot of the family's rundown house, with graffiti-covered walls and broken windows. We see a group of young Maori boys playing a rough game of soccer in the street, as the sound of sirens and police cars can be heard in the background. The camera then cuts to a close-up of the main character, Jake "The Muss" Heke, as he sits in his living room, surrounded by empty beer bottles and cigarette butts.
Jake is a violent and angry man, who is struggling to cope with the demands of his job as a painter and the pressures of supporting his family. He takes out his frustration on his wife, Beth, and their children, often lashing out at them with physical violence. In this opening scene, we see Jake yelling at Beth, accusing her of being lazy and not doing enough to help him. Beth, who is pregnant with their fifth child, tries to calm Jake down, but he refuses to listen and storms out of the house.
As the scene continues, we see glimpses of the rest of the Heke family. We see the oldest son, Nig, trying to defend his mother from Jake's anger, and the younger children, Grace and Boogie, cowering in fear. We also see glimpses of the family's extended kin, including Jake's mother, Ma Heke, who tries to intervene and calm Jake down, but to no avail.
The opening scene of Once Were Warriors is a powerful and poignant depiction of the struggles and challenges faced by the Heke family. It introduces us to the complex and nuanced characters of Jake and Beth, and sets the stage for the rest of the film, which follows their tumultuous relationship and the impact it has on their children. Through its raw and honest portrayal of domestic violence and its consequences, the opening scene of Once Were Warriors serves as a powerful and thought-provoking commentary on the social and economic issues facing Maori communities in New Zealand.
