The Legend of Baron To’A

After unfortunately missing the North American premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival (which our media covered this year for the first time) of Kiel McNaughton's The Legend of Baron To'A, we were finally able to discover this film a few days before its American release on December 4th. For many, New Zealand will be remembered as the country where the film saga The Lord of the Rings was shot and where its director Peter Jackson, one of today's greatest directors, was also able to direct many of his other films. It is also the country that has allowed directors such as Jane Campion and Lee Tamahori to make a name for themselves.

Alongside its directors who were able to have an international career, we will now certainly have to count Kiel McNaughton who is directing his first film here after having directed several episodes of series (Auckland Daze (2012), Find Me a Maori Bride (2015), Ahikaroa (2018)). His first film seems to follow in the footsteps of director Lee Tamahori whose film The Soul of Warriors (Once Were Warriors) (1994) is still remembered.

Fritz (Uli Latukefu) is a young Tongan boy struggling with the legacy of his father, Baron To'a, a wrestling superstar. When he leaves Australia to take care of the sale of his childhood home, he finds that his former quiet neighborhood has changed a lot. Between a corrupt movie, juvenile delinquents and a dangerous gang (the Ping Hunters) that imposes its law in his neighborhood, Fritz will have to go to war not only to get his father's championship belt back but also to clean up his neighborhood so that calm can return. Fritz will thus follow in the footsteps of his deceased father.

The approach of the film The Legend of Baron To'A may remind by some of these aspects of a western worthy of Sergio Leone in which an unnamed individual finds himself confronted with a city where violence is omnipresent and in which he tries not to take sides. If Fritz seems not to care about the fate of the neighbors of his childhood home it is because he feels like a stranger there. However, little by little he will change his position and not only question himself but be ready to take a stand.

The Legend of Baron To'A benefits not only from an original screenplay that not only aligns the action scenes but also privileges the psychology of the characters and above all pays homage to the important values of New Zealand. It is therefore no coincidence that the film not only emphasizes the national language and does not just have its characters express themselves in English. Also cast in the lead role is Uli Latukefu (Alien: Covenant (2017) and soon in Taika Waititi's new film Next Goal Wins (2021)). John Argall's screenplay allows director Kiel McNaughton to deliver a film that mixes social comedy and action film, and above all has its own tone.

The Legend of Baron To'A
Directed by Kiel McNaughton
Produced by Kerry Warkia
Written by John Argall
Starring Uli Latukefu, Nathaniel Lees, Jay Laga'aia, Shavaughn Ruakere, & John Tui
Music by Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper
Cinematography: Drew Sturge
Edited by Carly Turner
Distributed by Gravitas Ventures (USA)
Release date: December 4th 2020 (USA)
Running time: 103 minutes

Seen on November 23, 2021 in original version (press link)

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