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: “they are a bunch of young men [...] who have 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: honourable mention at Sundance and a special jury prize at Berlin.

Writer/Dir. Taika Waititi / 2004 / 18 mins / NZ /

2006 Coopers Award for Best Film at Flickerfest 2006 — Flickerfest, Australia, 2005 Honourable Mention in Short Film Making – Sundance Film Festival, USA, 2005 Special Jury Prize, Honourable Mention, Panorama – Berlin Film Festival, Germany, 2005 Special Jury Prize – Aspen Shortsfest, USA, 2005 Linda Mabalot New Director’s/New Visions Award – VC LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, USA, 2005 1st Place, Best Live Action — Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, USA, 2005 Honourable Jury Mention — St Tropez Film Festival, France, 2005 1st Prize, Short Film Competition — Stockholm International Film Festival, Sweden, 2004 2nd Place Audience Award – National Geographic All Roads Festival, USA, 2005 Best Fiction Short Film – Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia /
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or visit: http://www.nzfilm.co.nz/FilmCatalogue…
Watch the full version here: http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/tama-tu-2004

Genre
Maori & the Pacific Islands/War/Comedy
Producer Ainsley Gardiner, Cliff Curtis
Production Company Aio Pictures