Rent Rurangi (2020)
3.5 of 5 from 72 ratings
2h 55min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
After a ten year self-imposed exile, Caz (Elz Carrad) returns home to the farming community of Rurangi, New Zealand, seeking to rebuild relationships with his friends and estranged father that he left behind. Since Caz's transition and following a decade of no contact, at first, they do not recognise him and struggle to accept his decision to leave. Ten years is a long time, and a lot has changed. His childhood best friend, Anahera (Awhina-Rose Henare Ashby), is trying to re-connect with her Maori heritage. His Father (Kirk Torrance) is still processing the death of Caz's mother, whilst caught in an environmental fight which is dividing the town. Returning was never going to be easy but eventually, as wounds begin to heal, old flames rekindle, and his loved ones start to understand his decision to leave. 'Rurangi' is a powerful and authentic story interweaving themes of environmentalism, identity, and the strength of finding acceptance. - Actors:
- Elz Carrad, Arlo Green, Awahina Rose Ashby, Kirk Torrance, Aroha Rawson, Renee Sheridan, Ross Harper, Renee Lyons, Ramon Te Wake, Sonny Tupu, Adam Rohe, Tai Berdinner-Blades, Mustaq Missouri, Adam Brown, Kate McGill, Nikki Si'Ulepa, Marissa Holder, Ally Xue, Abigail Greenwood, Rudi Vodanovich
- Directors:
- Max Currie
- Producers:
- Craig Gainsborough-Waring
- Voiced By:
- Max Currie
- Creators:
- Oliver Page
- Writers:
- Cole Meyers, Oliver Page
- Studio:
- Peccadillo Pictures
- Genres:
- Drama, Lesbian & Gay, TV Dramas
- Countries:
- New Zealand
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Reviews (1) of Rurangi
Groundbreaking but at the same time light on pay-off - Rurangi review by AER
Rurangi is an insightful story about a transgender man who returns to his home town (of the title) ten years after he ran away. When Caz left he was a girl, and by a plot contrivance finds himself in his hometown after running his car off the road. Re=establishing bonds with old friends, his father and most interestingly, his school era boyfriend, this packs a lot of incident into it's short running time. So, ultlmately, the ending feels rushed and a leaves you wanting more - it begins to delve into some interest dynamics of character but shies away from getting too deep again and again. There is a lot here that is interesting though, and that's what I found frustrating, a good film about being trans in a small-town that offers up a lot of food for thought but ends up working merely as a gateway rather than something with a little bit more depth. Maybe now Rurangi has opened the door, there is room for another film to pick up where this one left off. It needed another 30 minutes to flesh out a few of the supporting characters.
Much to see, much to like, it just needed to be longer to give the whole cast room to grow and relationshop dynamics to be explored further. Instead a sub-plot about pesticides threatens to take centre stage at the last minute...
6 out of 10
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