the price of peace - a very memorable documentary at nziff 2015
tame iti featured prominently in that film - as did the tuhoe people
this film is more focused on tuhoe - particularly after the agreement
that document signed with the crown in 2014 and a landmark event
scenes of that in the prior film quite moving and pricking my curiosity
so an easy decision to take in this film as a sort of unofficial follow-up
but more focussed on the project to construct a communal building
we're looking out a window to a valley on a wet day as a bus pulls up
then as voyeurs to several meetings where the project is being discussed
all very casual, friendly and respectful of any person wanting to comment
seems the tuhoe people have a large pool of money available to spend
some want to use it to improve the housing conditions of a lot of people
others want to make a statement and build something more symbolic
the decision is taken to move on with building a large communal centre
te papa architect ivan mercep brought on board to design the building
even at age 84 he is keen to assist and throws himself into the project
there's a brief to make the building as self-sustainable as possible
community involvement in the process is also a high priority
as is the stipulation that locally sourced materials are used
so we see scenes of mud-bricks being formed and trees logged
the trees used as supporting poles and the bricks used in walls
as the film progresses the director's intent becomes quite obvious
there's very little dialogue and text provided as in most documentaries
the low-key, casual nature of the people is reflected in the film style
many scenes of people just going about their business as the camera rolls
some seems of little consequence to the building itself but that may be the point
a feeling that what the director is trying to do is provide a connection with tuhoe
mothers seen reading to children, mates gathered around a guitar and chatting
meat being hacked up and dropped onto a bar-b-que, beers being shared out
pretty average stuff really - again - that's the point i suspect - people's lives
and all this shown without comment, voice-over or explanation - just images
surely the intention being to allow us to feel like we are part of it all - done
the building itself takes shape and in particular the prominent frontage
2 huge curved beams of timber slabs are joined as a symbolic entrance
inside we hear about how the mud bricks aid in temperature control
one lady expert delighted with that and the placement of windows
there are also banks of solar panels in place to aid sustainability
it's all very impressive - we dwell on it all with 2 ladies inside
just looking on at the expanse of it - 'beautiful' is said often
the film's moving climax is the official opening of the building
a large crowd of guests seen slowly moving past the entrance way
maori warriors leading the way and a wero (challenge) is presented
the silhouette of tame iti seen as the person picking up the branch
this serious ceremony always sombre and always quite moving
the sense of occasion well encapsulated in this part of the film
but then it all relaxes as we also see children cutting flax ribbons
some speeches from representatives of the crown and it's done
there's a pervasive sense of contentment in the tuhoe community
me - ditto - feeling quite mellowed by it all and a want to visit
that feeling working well with the final scene out the same window
a bus pulls up - a lady gets off and walks towards us - coming home?
but possibly also a subtle invitation to viewers to make the journey
a mental note made for a visit on the next trip to the bay of plenty
the film certainly making it clear this is a welcoming community
with their new and impressive building central to that feeling
nicely done - the rolling credits mentioning a lot of people
very glad to have taken the time to be part of this project...
