The Strength of Water

The northern coast of New Zealand in the Hokianga region forms the backdrop for a story set in a small Maori community. The film maker chose to work with people from the community instead of professional actors. Thanks to this, but also to the harsh location, the film looks very authentic.
The little boy Kimi Kaneha is suffering greatly after the death of his twin sister. He doesn’t really accept her death. For instance, he eats for two and hence becomes very fat, all in order to keep her spirit with him. He almost always drags a chicken round with him, one of the thousands from the family farm, as a kind of furry toy. He isn’t taken very seriously, but does seem to have more insight than everyone thinks. His strange way of coming to terms with his sister’s death might just work.
The film focuses on Kimi, yet he still remains an outsider. In the end it is more about the lives of the adults around him. They are forced to lead a harsh and frugal life and don’t spare each other.
Just as you have road movies, this is a film that stays in one place. In the same windy place with the same unusual people.
The very committed film maker does not have a Maori background, but co-writer Briar Grace-Smith does (she is of Ngapuhi origin). Together they developed the story during a Sundance workshop and also at the Amsterdam Binger Filmlab. (GjZ)

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