What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted? Details

Once Were Warriors was a frighteningly believable account of domestic violence and did a lot to overturn the cosy picture postcard view of modern New Zealand. It was a lot to live up to and sadly this belated sequel has to go down as a disappointment despite the return of star Temeura Morrison and writer Alan Duff. Morrison is Jake the Musc, who still spends his time drinking himself — and beating other people — senseless. However, when his son (Julian Arahanga) is killed in a gang shooting, he is forced to reevaluate his life. Director Ian Mune is fine on detailing on the despair of working class Maori, but focuses too much on the gang lifestyle, which seems to have come out of some American ghetto thriller. Morrison is as impressive as ever, though.

Tough, raw-edged sequel that eschews the family dynamics of Once Were Warriors (qv) in favour of an action drama closer to Mad Max in its emphasis on gang warfare.