Rain of the Children
Encyclopedia
Rain of the Children is a 2008 feature film written, directed and produced by Vincent Ward
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In Rain of the Children, Ward further explores the subject of his earlier film, In Spring One Plants Alone when, as a young film student he travelled to the Ureweras and documented the lives of an elderly Māori woman (Puhi) and her schizophrenic son (Niki).
Voted by the audience from 250 feature films Rain of the Children won the Grand Prix at Era New Horizons Film Festival
- a major International Film Festival in Poland. The film was also nominated for best director and won best composer at the Qantas Film and TV Awards in New Zealand. Vincent Ward has also been nominated for best director at the Australian Directors Guild Awards for Rain of the Children. The film was nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards
.
Vincent Ward
Vincent Ward, ONZM is a film director and screenwriter.-Biography:Vincent Ward was awarded an Order of New Zealand Merit in 2007 for his contribution to film making. He was born in Greytown, New Zealand. He was educated at St Patrick's College, Silverstream and trained as an artist at the...
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In Rain of the Children, Ward further explores the subject of his earlier film, In Spring One Plants Alone when, as a young film student he travelled to the Ureweras and documented the lives of an elderly Māori woman (Puhi) and her schizophrenic son (Niki).
Cast
- Rena OwenRena OwenRena Owen is a New Zealand actress in film, theatre and television. She is of Maori, Torres Strait Islander and Pakeha descent. Owen is most well known in the lead role of Beth in the cult classic movie Once Were Warriors directed by Lee Tamahori...
, star of Once Were WarriorsOnce Were WarriorsOnce Were Warriors is New Zealand author Alan Duff's bestselling first novel, published in 1990. It tells the story of an urban Māori family, the Hekes, and portrays the reality of domestic violence. It was the basis of a 1994 film, directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Rena Owen and Temuera...
features as Puhi Tatu. Miriama Rangi, Mikaira Tawhara Harmony Wihapi and Melody Wihapi all play Puhi at different stages of her life, along with other TuhoeTuhoeNgāi Tūhoe , a Māori iwi of New Zealand, takes its name from an ancestral figure, Tūhoe-pōtiki. The word tūhoe literally means "steep" or "high noon" in the Māori language...
actresses. - Temuera MorrisonTemuera MorrisonTemuera Derek Morrison is a New Zealand-born actor. He has become one of the country's most famous stars for his roles as the abusive Jake "the Muss" Heke in 1994's Once Were Warriors and as bounty hunter Jango Fett and the Clone Troopers in the Star Wars series...
from Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
and Once Were WarriorsOnce Were WarriorsOnce Were Warriors is New Zealand author Alan Duff's bestselling first novel, published in 1990. It tells the story of an urban Māori family, the Hekes, and portrays the reality of domestic violence. It was the basis of a 1994 film, directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Rena Owen and Temuera...
plays Rua Kenana the prophet at his community in Maungapohatu. - Waihoroi Shortland plays the part of Puhi's adult son Niki.
- Other featured cast include Taungaroa Emile, Mahue Tawa, Mikira Jenkem, Katarina Nohopai Tangiwai, Kimikimi Mane and Ray Pomare.
- Many Tuhoe descendants played parts, recreating scenes their ancestors had experienced.
- Key Tuhoe elders and historians are interviewed in the film.
- Vincent WardVincent WardVincent Ward, ONZM is a film director and screenwriter.-Biography:Vincent Ward was awarded an Order of New Zealand Merit in 2007 for his contribution to film making. He was born in Greytown, New Zealand. He was educated at St Patrick's College, Silverstream and trained as an artist at the...
plays himself in the film.
Production
Rain of The Children was filmed on location in Tuhoe country in the Urewera ranges in New Zealand. The production returned to the places Puhi had lived and the sacred mountain, Maungapohatu, where traces of Rua's community still remain.Release
Rain of The Children's world premiere is at the Sydney Film Festival (In Competition) on 7 June 2008.Voted by the audience from 250 feature films Rain of the Children won the Grand Prix at Era New Horizons Film Festival
Era New Horizons Film Festival
New Horizons Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in July in Wrocław, Poland. It has been organised since 2001.- Festival programme 2009 :* Opening gala – Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon...
- a major International Film Festival in Poland. The film was also nominated for best director and won best composer at the Qantas Film and TV Awards in New Zealand. Vincent Ward has also been nominated for best director at the Australian Directors Guild Awards for Rain of the Children. The film was nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an international cultural initiative of the State Government of Queensland, Australia, through Events Queensland, to honour and promote the films, actors, directors, and cultures of Asia-Pacific to a global audience and to realise the objectives of UNESCO to...
.
External links
- Sydney Film Festival http://www.sydneyfilmfestival.org/film_details.asp?id=2&fID=396
- New Zealand International Film Festival http://www.enzedff.co.nz/n5882.html?region=2
- Review in The Hollywood Reporter http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?rid=11270