| White Lies | |
|---|---|
| Tuakiri Huna | |
| Directed by | Dana Rotberg |
| Screenplay by | Dana Rotberg |
| Based on | Medicine Woman by Witi Ihimaera |
| Produced by | John Barnett Chris Hampson |
| Starring | Whirimako Black Rachel House Antonia Prebble |
| Cinematography | Alun Bollinger |
| Edited by | Paul Sutorius |
| Music by | John Psathas |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Madman Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Languages | Māori English |
| Box office | $2,760[1] |
White Lies - Tuakiri Huna is a 2013 New Zealand film directed by Dana Rotberg and stars Whirimako Black, Antonia Prebble, and Rachel House. It is based on the novella Medicine Woman by Witi Ihimaera. Regarded as an excellent portrayal of colonial oppression in New Zealand, the film deals with the impacts of the Tohunga Suppression Act upon Māori traditions surrounding childbirth.[2][3]
The story is about a medicine woman Paraiti, who is approached by Maraea, the servant of wealthy woman, Rebecca Vickers, to perform an abortion.[4] Unbeknownst to Paraiti, Maraea has hidden plans. The unborn baby becomes the central figure in the story, as the women are forced to reconcile their differing perspectives and confront their own expectations of motherhood, life and death.[5]
The film premiered in New Zealand cinemas on 27 June 2013.[6] It screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.[7][8] The film was selected as the New Zealand entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards.[9]