Waru (2017): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Waru is a 2017 drama directed by Briar Grace Smith and Casey Kaa, starring Tanea Heke as Charm, Roimata Fox and Ngapaki Moetara. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes and earned $508,746 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 28m (88 min)
- Directors
- Briar Grace Smith and Casey Kaa
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Brown Sugar Apple Grunt
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Waru About?
The premise of Waru without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
This powerful film comprises eight distinct segments directed by Māori female filmmakers, all connected by the emotional journey surrounding a tangi, or traditional Māori mourning ceremony. The narrative unfolds following the tragic death of a young boy in the care of his caregiver, exploring themes of loss, grief, and cultural identity through a series of poignant and challenging perspectives.
Waru Themes & Keywords
· 7 tags- f rated
- triple f rated
- maori
- little boy
- funeral
- new zealand
- death of child
Waru Cast & Characters
Tanea Heke leads the cast as Charm, with Roimata Fox as Anahera and Ngapaki Moetara as Mihi. Directed by Briar Grace Smith and Casey Kaa; 13 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director Briar Grace Smith
- Co-director Casey Kaa
- Tanea Heke as Charm
- Roimata Fox as Anahera
- Ngapaki Moetara as Mihi
- Āwhina-Rose Henare Ashby as Em
Also Starring in Waru
· 9 more- Kararaina Rangihau Ranui
- Merehaka Maaka Hinga
- Maria Walker Kiritapu
- Acacia Hapi Mere
- Amber Curreen Titty
- Miriama McDowell Bash
- Cohen Holloway Pierre
- Thomas Sainsbury Jason
- Antonio Te Maioha Tapu
More from Briar Grace Smith and Casey Kaa
One more film directed by Briar Grace Smith and Casey Kaa: Cousins.
Waru Plot Summary
What happens in Waru from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 10 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On the day Waru dies at the hands of his caregiver, the film centers on his tangi and threads eight interwoven stories through the morning, all beginning at 9:59. This is a community-wide reckoning where grief, memory, and responsibility ripple outward, shaping conversations, choices, and quiet acts of resilience. Each segment shines a different light on how people carry loss, how they speak up or stay silent, and how a single tragedy can redraw the lines of family, friendship, and obligation.
Full summary
The whole story of Waru, scene by scene
Waru Box Office
Waru grossed $508,746 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$508.7K
- International
- $508.7K
Waru Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Waru.
How Well Do You Know Waru?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the child whose death sets the events of the film in motion?
Waru Also Known As
Also known as “와루”.
- Also known as
-
- 와루
Seen Waru?
Movies Like Waru
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including War Stories Our Mothers Never Told Us, Whale Rider and Ngati.
Waru FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Waru, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Waru?
Waru runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).
When was Waru released?
Waru was released on August 2, 2017.
Who directed Waru?
Waru was directed by Briar Grace Smith and Casey Kaa.
More films by Briar Grace Smith Who is in the cast of Waru?
Waru stars Tanea Heke as Charm, Roimata Fox as Anahera and Ngapaki Moetara as Mihi, among 13 credited actors.
How much did Waru make at the box office?
Waru grossed $508,746 worldwide.
Does Waru have a post-credit scene?
No. Waru has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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