July 28, 2014
Action lifts film above action genre
Producers of the new Maori action epic The Dead Lands are racing to complete a cut to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September.
Co-producer Tainui Stephens believes it will have wide appeal, despite being entirely in te reo Maori.
Directed by Toa Fraser, it’s a story of revenge and heroism in a pre-European Aotearoa.
Mr Stephens says while the adaption of traditional Maori fighting methods to the big screen is spectacular, it’s the cast including James Rolleston, Bernard Makoare, George Henare and Rena Owen that makes The Dead Lands more than action fodder for teenage boys.
"The performances are superior and it lifts it out of just the action genre and moves it kind of towards adventure. The violence or fighting in the film is the result of the story and not just because we want to have a fight. There’s a really good story happening here with wonderful performances, it’s exciting to see it all in te reo and it’s exciting to see it in an imagined Maori world," he says.
The Dead Lands will be released in New Zealand on October 30.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TAINUI STEPHENS CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjA1MDE=
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