The Other Kiwi Masterpiece of 1994 1994 was a great year for Kiwi cinema. Two masterpieces were released that year, Peter Jackson's "Heavenly Creatures" and Lee Tamahori's "Once Were Warriors". The latter film deals with issues we are still grappling with today: alcoholism/substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, rape of a child, poverty, and the deleterious effects of colonialism. While many movies are referred to as "powerful" and "raw", "Once Were Warriors" is one of the few that truly lives up to those labels. Its gut-wrenching story unfolds with an operatic intensity, juxtaposing scenes of mirth against scenes of incredible violence. Unless you're a sociopath, you will be horrified by the abuse. In one scene, however, the father unleashes a torrent of extreme brutality that leaves the viewer cheering him on, in effect, making one complicit with the violence. The characters are drawn with genuine complexity, and the acting of the leads is jaw-dropping. "Once Were Warriors" is, undeniably, a very bleak film, but it also offers a vision of strength and hope. I guarantee, this is a film you will never forget.