Movie: Hunt for the Wilderpeople directed by Waititi and based on the book Wild Pork and Water Cress
This movie tells the story of Ricky, a Maori kid in the New Zealand foster care system. It follows his story as he is fostered out to the latest family (in a long line of foster families) and develops his character as he comes to know and trust, first his new foster Mum, Bella, then his new pet dog, and eventually, his foster Dad, Hector.The story concentrates mainly on the relationship between Ricky and Hector which develops over time and through the (very) unexpected death of Bella. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a gritty, yet whimsical tale with lots of quirky, memorable characters and an enjoyable, comedic storyline which somehow manages to get us thinking about issues such as the meaning of Family, the process of bonding, the brevity of life and what life for a foster kid can sometimes entail.
This movie is somewhat frivolous, yet moving in its own way.
(Review by Kate D.Co.Kilkenny,Teacher and Mum to three little rascals)
Verdict:
There is one scene which could spoil the movie for a discerning parent: In the scene where Ricky and Hector have run away from the law and are hiding out with a couple of hunters in their remote hut, Ricky accidentally describes Hector in a way that implies he is forcing Ricky to perform sexual acts and this is what the hunters (mis)understand about Hector. While some viewers might find this misunderstanding funny, real-life victims of abuse, who are viewing/studying this movie,will not, and it could cause difficulty/upset in a classroom setting.
Also, some offensive language is used throughout the movie,such as the word “Shit”.