Utu means (compensate, cost, fee, pay, price, ransom, rate, revenge, reward, salary, or wages) in Maori. The story develops several story lines about people involved in a conflict between native peoples and their colonialists. There is Te Wheki the impassioned native leader and Wiremu, a native man who "scouts" for the British. There is Williamson, a settler who has risked everything to make New Zealand his home and Scott, a military white man, born and raised in New Zealand. There is also Kura who loves Scott and her people.
I found the subject matter fascinating. I know nothing of New Zealand's history so I can't say how authentic the stories are. The movie does a good job at showing the main characters as heroic and flawed. It points out the complexity of such situations. The acting was all great. Kelly Johnson who was in Goodbye Pork Pie did a really good job as Scott,and Tania Bristowe is so very graceful.
I give it 3/5 acorns.
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