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Waru
Taking its title from the Maori word for "eight", Waru is a compendium of 10-minute short films by female Maori directors Chelsea Cohen, Ainsley Gardiner, Briar Grace Smith, Casey Kaa, Renae Maihi, Awanui Simich-Pene, Paula Whetu Jones and Katie Wolfe. Each segment was shot in real time in a single day in one take starting at 10am. This stylistic conceit allows the vignettes to consider the death of a small boy called Waru, who was apparently the victim of parental abuse, from multiple perspectives. The characters include the dead boy's two grandmothers, who belong to rival tribes, kindergarten teacher Anahera (Roimata Fox), who must address Waru's classmates about the tragedy, and a woman called Charm (Tanea Heke), who is in charge of preparing food for the funeral reception.
