Tama Tū (2004)

Overview : Six Māori Battalion soldiers camped in Italian ruins wait for night to fall. In the silence, the bros-in-arms distract themselves with jokes. A tohu (sign) brings them back to reality, and they gather to say a karakia before returning to the fray. Director Taika Waititi describes the soldiers as young men with "a special bond, strengthened by their character, their culture and each other." Shot in the rubble of the old Wellington Hospital, Tama Tū won international acclaim. Invited to over 40 international festivals, its many awards included honourable mentions at Sundance and Berlin.

Release Date : October 21, 2004

Runtime : 18m

Genre : War, Comedy  

Companies : New Zealand Film Commission, Whenua Films

Countries : New Zealand

Keywords : army, prayer, italy, world war ii, new zealand, crow, morality, soldier, rubble, ruins, toy soldier, moral dilemma, battalion, camaraderie, soldiers, short film, new zealand army, karakia, carving, brothers-in-arms