Sgt Haane: Movie Review

Cast: Alex Tarrant, Vinnie Bennett, Niwa Whatuira
Director: Tearepa Kahi

The oral traditions of the likes of Homer inform much of the start of Muru director Tearepa Kahi's latest, a docu-drama about a 28th Maori Battalion member whose bravery has been largely neglected.

Beginning with a swathe of modern-day people remarking on Haane Manahi's prowess, strength and skill, the film swiftly begins to build a picture of someone who was more than a man before flashing back to the day he led the charge to take the mountain on Takrouna in Tunisia, supported by his 28th Maori Battalion comrades on April 19, 1943.

It's an intriguing start to what is a usual tale of derring-do in wartime, but with a stronger emphasis on whakapapa and the impact on others.

But using a split narrative isn't quite the devastating storytelling weapon that the film really needs - and much of Sgt. Haane feels like a very muted and quiet approach to saluting a would-be hero.

Tarrant portrays Haane well, but there's little to go on for the guy who's seen dishing out sympathy and cabin breads to terrified natives of Tunisia much to the chagrin of his cigarette-smoking colleagues. And there's definitely a feeling that perhaps budget stymied some of the intentions of the recreations of the attacks, with on-screen graphics building a sense of scale and stake, as opposed to celluloid action which is all close quarters and close-ups.

Yet, there's a decency to the acting within that proves to be largely compelling, and thanks to footage early on of the Maori Battalion being recruited and their attitude of goofing around for the cameras, a sense of camaraderie is fleshed out where there is little. It's no Band Of Brothers-style story, but there's a palpable sense of ebb and flow between the characters.

Perhaps more effective are the framed portraits of the Battalion members which are wheeled out by relatives at commemorations and whose timeless stances show the Anzac spirit and the war-torn bonds that are created. A scene of the images being packed away towards the end of the film provides a sense of emotional heft that seems to be largely lacking throughout. And testimony from a relative in Tunisia, telling Haane's story to his own son goes a long way to backing up the oral traditions and maintaining of the lineage that this film clearly wants to achieve.

On top of it all is a tremendous score by Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper, whose soundtrack is evocative and resonant, landing when it needs to and threading the story together when the story is somewhat lacking. It's a triumphant touch that elevates the film.

For all its intentions, Sgt. Haane delivers the kind of muted punch you'd least expect from a film like this - it's a testament to his legacy that he was denied the Victoria Cross for his bravery, despite commendations, but the portrayal of what happened feels sadly like it's more suited to a TV movie than a big screen.