July 09, 2021
Haka short makes French film festivals
A short film made in Wellington, The Haka, has won selection to two highly regarded French film festivals, this month’s Cinema des Antipodes Cinephiles and the 23rd Festival des Antipodes in Saint-Tropez in October.
Director Isaac Lee wrote the script with April Phillips based on the classic World War One story about a Christmas football game.
The 15-minute film set in the trenches in France depicts Māori soldiers who are ordered to play soccer, not their normal game' with German troops during a Christmas ceasefire.
To save face, the soldiers agree on the condition that they are allowed to perform a haka before the game.
Cinema des Antipodes president Bernard Bories says The Haka is a beautiful film which with humour and sensitivity gives faith and hope in humanity.
The film was shot by cinematographer Matt Sharp on Lee’s Akatarawa Valley farm.
THE HAKA was released on Youtube on Anzac Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1dZTsjhEJc
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