Product Description Beautifully restored in HD, this classic film is now released for the first time in North America on Blu Ray. Jake Heke lives with his family in a tenement house for native Maori in the slums of Auckland. Despite his love and devotion, Jake's battle with alcoholism frequently results in terrifyingly erratic outbursts in front of his children and violent beatings of his wife Beth. After Jake loses his job, each member of the Heke family is forced to face their own personal demons and the societal constraints that shackle native New Zealanders. Bonus Features, include: Behind-the-Scenes featurette. Package includes: Collector's Booklet with film essay by New Zealand leading cinema expert, Peter Calder; cast and crew credits; chapter breaks; stills. Review WINNER - Best Foreign Film - Australian Film Institute WINNER - 9 Awards, including Best Film and Best Director - New Zealand Film and TV Awards WINNER - Anicaflash Prize - Venice Film Festival WINNER - Audience Award - Rotterdam Int'l Film Festival WINNER - Critics' Award - Fantasporto Film Festival WINNER - Best Actress - Fantasporto FIlm Festival WINNER - Special Jury Prize - Hawaii Int'l Film Festival WINNER - Grand Prix des Ameriques - Montreal World Film Festival WINNER - Best Actress - Montreal World Film Festival WINNER - People's Choice Award - Montreal World Film Festival WINNER - Bruce C Corwin Award - Santa Barbara Int'l Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION - Toronto Int'l Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION - Chicago Film Critics Association Awards ---It is powerful and chilling, and directed by Lee Tamahori with such narrative momentum that we are swept along in the enveloping tragedy of the family's life. --Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-TimesThe actors...deliver authoritative yet sympathetic performances that get at the roots, or rootlessness, of their characters. --Rita Kempley, Washington Post
