Tama Tu

Holed up in a ruined house in Italy during WW2, six young Maori soldiers stare death in the face. They've no food and little water, and can hear the sounds of battle not far in the distance. To avoid discovery, they agree to stay silent and, drawing on their shared culture, entertain each other wordlessly with jokes. Even though most communication is non-verbal, it's testament to the strength of the performance and direction in this tense short film that each character evolves clearly and becomes real to the audience. This fine drama succeeds in telling us so much about how camaraderie, bravery and tenderness can emerge to carry us through the most horrific circumstances.