Broken Barrier is a 1952 New Zealand film.[1] It was directed and produced by John O'Shea (director) and Roger Mirams, and written by O'Shea.[2] It starred Kay Ngarimu and Terence Bayler, and also featured Myra Hapi Smith, Bill Merito and George Ormond.
| Broken Barrier | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John O'Shea Roger Mirams |
| Written by | John O'Shea |
| Produced by | John O'Shea Roger Mirams |
| Starring | Kay Ngarimu Terence Bayler |
| Narrated by | Guy Smith |
| Cinematography | Bill Hopper |
Production company | Pacific Films |
| Distributed by | NZ Film Archives |
Release date |
|
Running time | 69 minutes |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Language | English |
The film addresses mistrust and prejudice between Pākehā and Māori in New Zealand, portraying a romance between a Pākehā man and a Māori woman.[2] The film was somewhat controversial at its release.
Cast
edit- Kay Ngarimu as Rawi
- Terence Bayler as Tom Sullivan
- Myra Hapi as Kiri
- George Ormond as Alec
- Dorothy Tansley as Mrs. Sullivan
- F.W. French as Mr. Sullivan
- Lily Te Nahu as Maata
- Bill Merito as Johnny
- Carol Chapman
- Lloyd Morgan
Plot
editThe film is about the relationship between Tom Sullivan, a Pākehā journalist, and Rawi, a Māori woman.[3] Sullivan meets Rawi while researching articles on rural Māori life, and he stays for a time with Rawi's family. Rawi's family disapproves of her relationship with a Pākehā man, ending in a quarrel. Later, however, the two are re-united in the city, where Rawi goes to work as a nurse. The two resume their romance, but this time meet with opposition from Sullivan's family and friends, who do not wish him to be involved with a Māori woman. Sullivan eventually comes to agree with their views, and the couple separate once again. Sullivan has a change of heart, however, when he is saved from a fire by a Māori friend's sacrifice. Sullivan and Rawi are reunited.
Production
editThe film was the first real attempt at a feature film to be produced in New Zealand since the end of World War II and was filmed on a shoestring budget, and as such was fairly rudimentary and naive, yet was also important at re-establishing the New Zealand film industry.
References
edit- ^ Martin, Helen; Edwards, Sam (1997). "New Zealand film, 1912-1996". Trove. Auckland ; Melbourne ; Oxford :Oxford University Press. Retrieved 13 January 2023.ISBN 0-19-558336-1
- ^ a b New Zealand Film Commission page on Broken Barrier
- ^ "Broken Barrier". University of Hawaiʻi. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
External links
edit
 | This article related to a New Zealand film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |