Ka Whawhai Tonu – Struggle without End

It’s 1864 and against impossible odds, the Māori in the Waikato region valiantly face an army of colonial settlers to fight for their lands and people. Haki is a half-Māori and half-European teenager fighting on the side of the New Zealand military and taken prisoner by the Māori resistance. He befriends Kopu, a Māori girl who is imprisoned in her own right as she is believed to be the vessel for manifesting a Māori god of war, used for guidance as a resistance tactic in her people’s battle for sovereignty. Haki and Kopu find themselves caught between many concurrent battles of identity politics, physical and spiritual warfare, and friends and enemies, as they both discover there is no escape without a fight. Mike Jonathan’s feature debut is a historical war epic that awakens the spirit of resistance and the fight for survival. Michael Jonathan is an award-winning Māori filmmaker from Aotearoa (New Zealand) known for his commitment to telling Indigenous stories with authenticity and heart. With a career spanning directing, producing, cinematography, and editing, Mike has crafted compelling narratives that honour the voices and histories of Māori communities. This is a Free Friday screening. Tickets are free and will be available at a first come first served basis on Friday June 6 at our in-person Box Office at the TIFF Lightbox. Available in-person only.