We are able to see that Beth’s only form of escape at this point is to try and cover up what has happened. And to try not and think about it. “ Some old story, gotta learn to keep my mouth shut.”
The best thing Nig knows to do, as a form of escape is to join forces with others and create another sense of feeling needed. It is Nig’s lack of love, which drives him to joining a gang, as a way out of his problems. The audience is aware that Jake shows little to no, signs of affection towards any of his children. The audience learns that Jake had once loved Nig when he held him in his arms as a baby, but once Nig showed signs of weakness, such as crying Jake put him down and walked away.
It evident that Nig knows that his father has become trapped, and in turn, doesn’t want to become like him. Ironically, by joining a gang, influenced by strength and violence, he is following down a parallel path as Jake. We are able to recognise Nig’s escape as a downfall, which places him in a situation just an entrapping as his home life.
By the use of filmic technique we are able to recognise Nig’s initiation test, as a savage and brutal entrapment. The down tilts on Nig and uptilts on the gang members, creates the image that presents the scene as an arena. As we see Nig getting beaten up, the audience is put into a position where they see this as an act of savageness and brutality. The soundtrack helps create this illusion, by the sounds of dogs barking in the back ground to enforce this gladiator style initiation.
We are later able to see Nig uses his tattoos, as a form of escaping and hiding behind the harsh reality of entrapment.
Grace, plays a mother figure to her siblings and reads her stories to them, as a way of given them something to look forward to and free them from their surrounds by creating false hope for a short time. Grace’s stories she writes, is a way for her to escape the reality and bring happiness to those around her, especially Toot. Toot is Grace’s best mate who spends most of the day sitting in the front seat of a broken down car he calls home. Toot looks to Grace for a form of an escape of his hopeless life. By listening to Grace’s stories, he is released from reality for a short period of time, similar to the way Grace is released from her entrapment.
Toot has a dream, which is his form of escape. He wishes to one day go on the dole, fix up his car and drive on out of there. The audience is able to see that is purely a dream and has little chance of actually happening.
The use of filmic technique when Grace and Toot are together conveys their togetherness as a form of escape. They are filmed under a bridge, blocking out the world around them; the colours are plain and symbolise peace. The soundtrack plays the most vital role as it muffles and blocks out the sounds of the life around them.
After the scene where Grace is raped, we see her differently. She escapes to Toot and asks for something stronger to take away her pain, such as glue. The audience is able to recognise this is a downfall and a negative escape. Stoned and laughing uncontrollably, outlines the escape, but the happiness ends when Toot innocently tries to give Grace a peck on the lips. From the way Grace reacts the audience is able to see that she is pushed over her limit, much like the way Beth was by Jake, and no longer see Toot as someone she can relate and escape with. ‘I hate you! Your just like every one else” The use of shadows on Grace’s face when she says this symbolises that she is once again trapped. We see Grace left with no where else to go. The use of contrasting and composing ideas, in a juxtaposition as she walks down a street passing a choir singing a holy song, and a several women prostitutes. The use of symbolic costume helps to convey Grace as similar to them.
As Grace walks past alleyways, in the dark we are given the idea that she is lost and has nowhere to escape to. When Grace is drawn to looking down an alleyway shedding light we are given a split second illusion that she might be trying to find some good in the light. Ironically in the past light has symbolised an escape or something good, but now that Grace had lost all hope we are exposed to the harsh violence only found here. The use of filmic technique helps to convey the image that violence and crime everywhere in the world and there is no escaping it. As two men stand under the light boxing, a red filter used creates the illusion of anger and violence. The profile shot of Grace’s face cross cuts between the two images, which emphasises on her emotional state.
Grace’s hope is crushed even more, when Jake rips up her book, in volcanic anger. The audience is able to recognise this event as a foreshadowing, as the music begins to swell and roar like it has in the past, when signifying bad events. The soundtrack is a manifestation of how Grace feels, unable to break free from the vicious cycle.
Grace’s final escape is her death, as she could not handle the pressure of the violence, alcoholism and male domination in her life. Her last resort and only escape is to hang herself and end the pain.
The scene when Jake realises that Grace has committed suicide, is the first time we see Jake as insignificant and worthless. The shot of Jake in the doorway, standing in shock staring at Grace hanging from the tree, suggests that he is unable to do any thing and he is impotent and unable to do anything. The soundtrack is very dramatic and is drowned often by Beth’s screams.
The next morning when Beth is arranging for Grace to be buried in Beth’s home lands, Jake tries to regain his control by stating that Grace isn’t going to be taken there. This shot is the first time we see Beth take control of her family’s life, by telling Jake that he is no longer going to have a say in the way things are run. ‘Our people once were warriors. But unlike your Jake, they were people with munnah, pride; people with spirit .If my spirit can survive living with you for eighteen years, then I can survive anything.”
The use of filmic technique, at Grace’s funeral helps to convey the release of the Heke’s entrapment. The use of soft tones and a sun setting sky creates a sense that they are at peace now. Jake and his influences no longer trap them.
Throughout the film “Once Were Warriors” filmic technique is used to convey each member of the Heke family as trapped in one way or another. If not by their own actions, resulting in their own downfall, then by their influencing society.
Lee Tamahori takes full advantage of filmic technique to create a powerful and dramatic film. The film captures the audiences not just by looking at domestic violence, but the way it affect those it reflects on.