Utu is a 1983 New Zealand movie directed by Geoff Murphy

Geoff Murphy

Geoff Murphy is a successful New Zealand filmmaker best known for his work during the renaissance of New Zealand cinema that began in the last half of the 1970s....

. It starred Anzac Wallace. Utu was reputed to have one of the largest budgets for a New Zealand film at the time. The film was screened out of competition at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival

1983 Cannes Film Festival

- Jury :*William Styron *Henri Alekan *Yvonne Baby *Sergei Bondarchuk *Youssef Chahine *Souleymane Cissé *Gilbert de Goldschmidt *Mariangela Melato *Karel Reisz...

.

Loosely based on events from Te Kooti's War

Te Kooti's War

Te Kooti's War was one of the New Zealand Wars, the series of conflicts fought between 1845 and 1872 between the Māori and the colonizing European settlers, often referred to as Pākehā. This particular conflict covered most of the East Cape region and the centre of the North Island of New Zealand...

, it tells of a Māori soldier's desire for utu

Utu (Maori concept)

Utu is a Māori concept of reciprocation, or balance.To retain mana, both friendly and unfriendly actions require an appropriate response - hence utu covers both the reciprocation of kind deeds, and the seeking of revenge....

, or vengeance, on his former allies after the British army

British Army

The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...

 destroys his home village and kills his uncle. The film is set in the 1870s.

Cast

• Anzac Wallace - Te Wheke
• Bruno Lawrence
  Bruno Lawrence
  Bruno Lawrence was a New Zealand musician and actor.Initially notable as founder of 1970s musical and theatrical "Blerta", he had well-regarded roles in several major films, and starred on the 1990s Australian satirical TV series Frontline.-Biography:Born David Charles Lawrence in Worthing, West...
  
   - Williamson
• Tim Elliott - Col. Elliot
• Kelly Johnson - Lt. Scott
• Wi Kuki Kaa
  Wi Kuki Kaa
  Wi Kuki Kaa was an acclaimed New Zealand actor in film, theatre and television. He was from the Maori tribes of Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu.-Biography:...
  
   - Wiremu
• Tania Bristowe - Kura
• Ilona Rodgers
  Ilona Rodgers
  Ilona Rodgers is a British actress and television presenter who has lived and worked in several countries.In the United Kingdom in 1964 she played the role of Carol in The Sensorites, a six episode adventure of the BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who...
  
   - Emily Williamson
• Merata Mita
  Merata Mita
  Merata Mita, CNZM was a significant filmmaker in New Zealand as well as a key figure in the growth of the Māori screen industry. Mita was from the Māori tribes of Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāi Te Rangi.-Background:...
  
   - Matu
• Faenza Reuben - Hersare
• Tom Poata - Puni
• Martyn Sanderson
  Martyn Sanderson
  Martyn Sanderson was a New Zealand actor, filmmaker and poet.Sanderson was one of the founders of Downstage Theatre in 1964 in Wellington, with a vision of a small professional company performing challenging works in an intimate venue...
  
   - Vicar
• John Bach
  John Bach
  John Bach is a Welsh-born actor who has spent most of his career working in New Zealand.His best known role internationally is Madril in the two last movies of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , but he has substantial television credits in New Zealand, including the title role of Detective...
  
   - Belcher
• Dick Puanaki - Eru
• Sean Duffy - Cpl. Jones
• Ian Watkin - Doorman