Once Were Warriors

Set in urban Auckland (New Zealand) this movie tells the story of the Heke family. Jake Heke is a violent man who beats his wife frequently when drunk, and yet obviously loves both her and his family. The movie follows a period of several weeks in the family's life showing Jake's frequent outburst of violence and the effect that this has on his family. The youngest son is in trouble with the police and may be put into a foster home while the elder son is about to join a street gang. Jake's daughter has her own serious problems which are a key element in the plot.

This sequel to the New Zealand-set drama "Once Were Warriors" revisits alcoholic Maori man Jake Heke (Temuera Morrison) and his wife, Beth (Rena Owen), who have separated, largely due to his excessive drinking. When their older son, Nig (Julian Arahanga), is killed in a gang fight, his brother, Sonny (Clint Eruera), becomes determined to avenge his death. Attempting to change his life for the better, Jake tries to help Sonny avoid Nig's tragic fate.