Awatea

CONTAINS OCCASIONAL USE OF STRONG LANGUAGE

By Bruce Mason

Cast Includes: George Henare, Geraldine Brophy, Te Kohe Tuhaka and Nancy Brunning

Directed by Colin McColl

What is more honourable: the truth that hurts, or the lie that heals?

Everyone in the remote township of Omoana is proud of Matt Paku, who left the East Coast to train as a doctor and now has a successful practice in Auckland. Proudest of all is his old, blind father Werihe, who basks in this success via his son’s letters which are read to him by Emma Gilhooly, the no-nonsense local postmistress. Every New Year’s Eve, Matt comes home and the whole community celebrates. But things are different this year: Gilhooly has devastating news; news that she must keep from old Werihe at all costs if he’s to hold onto his belief in his son.

Alongside THE POHUTUKAWA TREE and THE END OF THE GOLDEN WEATHER, AWATEA completes Bruce Mason’s classic trilogy of powerful New Zealand dramas: a thrilling, heart-wrenching, morally tough, fiercely realistic study of betrayal and disillusionment.

“Back in 1968, I was privileged to see famous New Zealand opera bass Inia Te Wiata and a young George Henare as father and son in the premiere of this beautiful, moving story set in a remote East Coast township in the 1960s. Now George, one of our most revered and honoured actors, will take on the role of blind koro Werihe. Te Kohe Tuhaka will play Matt, the prodigal son. A true feast of talent.” – Colin McColl