Crooked Earth

20010 EN

🙌

7.5

BANGER

★7.5TMDB · 3

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Will Bastion returns home from the army after an absence of 20 years to bury his father, the former chief of thee Maori tribe, Ngati Kaipuku. The eldest son, he is reluctant to inherit his fathers role, so it is taken more willingly by his younger brother, Kahu. Kahu is the leader of a band of drug dealers and trouble-makers who ride horses through the middle of town, wrecking peoples gardens. Under the guise of refusal of a land settlement, Kahu makes a large marijuana deal with some murdering city folk. Will must choose between loyalty for his brother and his father, Maori tradition, and contemporary financial issues.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Temuera Morrison
Will Bastion
Jaime Passier-Armstrong
Ripeka Bastion
Lawrence Makoare
Kahu Bastion
Quinton Hita
Api
Nancy Brunning
Marama
Mark Nua
Iosefa
Sydney Jackson
Pettigrew
George Henare
Tipene

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sam Pillsbury
Writers: Waihoroi Shortland, Greg McGee, Karin Altmann
Languages: English
Countries: France, New Zealand

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

25 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, New Zealand.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Sam Pillsbury, shot by David Gribble. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by James Hall. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Chris Plummer shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Temuera Morrison and Jaime Passier-Armstrong and Lawrence Makoare carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0251032 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sam Pillsbury directs. David Gribble behind the camera. James Hall scores. Chris Plummer cuts. Produced in France, New Zealand. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

125 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 2 countries: France, New Zealand.
3Directed by Sam Pillsbury, shot by David Gribble. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by James Hall. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Chris Plummer shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Temuera Morrison and Jaime Passier-Armstrong and Lawrence Makoare carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0251032 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.