Director: Merata Mita, Leon Narbey, Gerd Pohlmann| New Zealand | English and Te Reo Maori with English subtitles | 1980

For 506 days members of the Ngāti Whātua tribe occupied land on Bastion Point, an area just outside of Aukland. At issue were laws passed by the government meant to divide traditional Maori terrioty. On day 507, 800 soldiers descended on the camp and removed the protestors. Film makers Leon Narbey, Gerd Pohlman and Merata Mita were on hand to capture the events with their cameras. The film is a touchstone is New Zealand, where its Maori perspective helped change policy in the country and made Mita a prominent activist and leading figure in the development of First Peoples cinema.

Source: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision

A Mita, Narbey, Pohlmann, production.

PRESENTED BY TIFF CINEMATHEQUE