Cousins

Cousins is a touching and evocative New Zealand film directed by Ainsley Gardiner and Briar Grace-Smith, who also wrote the screenplay along with Patricia Grace. The movie draws heavily from Grace's 1992 novel of the same name and was widely anticipated as a refreshing and realistic portrayal of Maori culture, families, and women.

The film's narrative traces the lives of three Maori cousins—Mata, Missy, and Makareta—who come from the same lineage but are separated by circumstances and brought up in distinct environments. The narrative unfolds across six decades, beginning in the middle of the 20th century. Cousins delicately interweaves their lives, their trials and hardships, and their connection to their shared bloodline, all with an empathetic gaze at the Maori community’s socio-cultural landscape.

Makareta is the privileged daughter of a well-off lawyer, destined to be the next ‘matriarch’ of the family. Missy is a headstrong young woman who rebels against the confines of her limited, working-class existence. Mata, the cornerstone of their story, is forcibly taken from her family as a child by the state in a grim echo of historic injustices faced by Maori families. The movie effectively underscores these familial and societal pressures that shape their character arcs.

Essentially a story of connection, displacement and reconnection, Cousins explores the women’s separate and shared experiences. The trio experiences different kinds of love, loss, betrayal, and awakening. Despite the vast gulf of circumstance and experience, their bond transcends barriers, and they affect each other’s lives in meaningful, often poignant ways.

Cousins is particularly significant for its refreshing perspective of presenting Maori women upfront and for its adept tackling of issues such as Maori land rights and cultural identity crisis. The movie sensitively crisscrosses different time periods and experiences, deftly shifting viewers’ perspectives back and forth. The powerful and immersive storytelling is complemented by an impressive performance by the cast, with three actors playing each cousin at different stages of life, successfully maintaining the continuity and intensity of each character.

The film beautifully and evocatively narrates the unique experience each cousin has while providing an insight into the unfaltering connection each woman feels towards her cousin. In doing so, Cousins presents an intimate, at times heartbreaking, and eventually uplifting tale of love, family, and identity. The strength, resilience, and endurance of Maori women form the spine of the movie, serving as both a message of empowerment and a tribute to Maori culture.

Gardiner and Grace-Smith's ideas of family, belonging, and identity permeate throughout the film, wherein every character, no matter how briefly they appear, adds to the depth and dimension of the primary trio. The directors faithfully depict the Maori tradition, from native language and rituals to perceptible nuances of the Maori daily life.

The visuals of Cousins take you through the stunning landscapes of New Zealand—lush greenery, magnificent hill ranges, serene coastlines—adding an atmospheric breadth to the film. The film’s score is equally evocative, with traditional Maori music interspersed with mood-setting instrumentals that compliment the story’s ebb and flow.

While it is indeed a cinematic exploration into the lives and challenges of Maori women, Cousins also carries a universal appeal. It presents a powerful meditation on kinship, the durability of love across trials, and the yearning for a place of cultural belonging. The film invites audiences to reflect on what it means to be part of a community, tribe, or family, and how this heritage and connection define a significant part of our identity, irrespective of where we come from.

Cousins is a poignant, heartfelt, and resonant film that takes viewers on an emotional journey through the complexities of familial bonds and cultural identity. Its touching themes, stellar performances, and stunning cinematography make it a memorable and worthwhile watch, shedding insightful light on Maori culture and heritage.