MovieChat Forums > Forever Strong (2008) Discussion > Use of Haka by filmmakers

Use of Haka by filmmakers


A lot of threads refer to the use of the haka by the real rugby team, and while I do think that if they want to do a haka they need to come up with their own and not use ka mate, this thread is about the use of the haka in the film.

After seeing the trailer, I thought the film would give me a reason as to why the team performed the ka mate haka specifically. ie. I expected a reference to new zealand and the all blacks, but there wasn't one, which I thought was disrespectful. Anyone not familiar with new zealand or rugby would assume the haka was a highland rugby thing exclusively, which I think is inappropriate to imply.

Not only that, but they made it seem as if non-highland rugby teams were ignorant of the all blacks and the haka, which I found odd. Surely if you play rugby, you also follow rugby and are aware of the all blacks, and thus when you see a high school american team performing the haka, you don't put them down by denigrating the haka, but if anything the team for being posers.

Also, the team played Scotland in the movie, which made me wonder what would happen if they played New Zealand.

Haka aside, what an awesome coach.

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The words in the Haka is wrong that's not the proper words

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I was hoping so too, so I did some research. Larry Gelwix the coach was influenced by rugby in his time in new zealand, and he and his team have been great fans of the all blacks. This is why their jersy's are black.

They do the haka out of respect and to bring a stronger aspect of teamwork. They talk about the haka in the movie and what it means to them and they do talk about this in real life.

In fact, the highland team have two haka's. The Ka Mate and their own which was made for them by teams from new zealand.

They actually performed the haka very well in the film and they do it damn perfectly in real life. This is because for the film, maori teachers taught the filmcrew the haka. How it should be done.

Don't assume you know everything just because of the film.

They've played in NZ before and performed very well. Winning over Church College. They're a really good highschool team. I actually find highschool matches to be far better than international matches.


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