The story of Mata, raised by a cruel guardian who keeps her from her family, Makareta, the reluctant princess of her tribe, and Missy, overlooked but in the end the glue that holds them together. Three cousins, once thrown together and as women grown apart, ultimately sharing a connection that can never be broken.
Cousins is potentially one of the most heart-breaking Kiwi films to be released since 2019's Bellbird. Based on the 1992 novel by Patricia Grace, Cousins touches on a collection of difficulties and oppressions that Māori women have historically suffered, through the interactions with the European-descended Pākehā, and within their own Māori cultures and iwi.
This is the story of Mata, a Māori woman who is homeless, practically non-verbal, and repeats the same routine every day as she roams the streets of Wellington alone. The story is almost entirely through sequences of flashbacks of three cousins as they follow three very different paths; one taken from their family home, one that voluntarily leaves, and one that stays behind. Cousins offers a look into Māori traditions and upbringing, as well as the use of laws to remove Māori children from their parents.
Invariably, the ability to choose is the factor that separates Mata from her two cousins, Makareta and Missy. While they have two completely separate paths, Makareta and Missy make the decision that determines the direction of their adult lives. Mata, on the other hand, has her experiences shaped by those who believe they know best, and the consequences of those interventions on her mental development are difficult to watch.
Cousins is an enlightened rebuttal to those who believe that racism no longer exists within New Zealand or that the Māori people do not still need or deserve support and assistance. One cannot put a price on the damage that has been done to the Māori people as a result of New Zealand's colonization. And while many may overcome the difficulties to live in peace, and some may thrive despite the obstacles thrown in their way, it can't be forgotten that there are many that have been irreparably broken.
The Mata we meet in the opening scenes is mentally challenged. Not because of a genetic defect, but because of the effects of being torn from her family, taught to hate her own culture, and bullied anyway. Left with the emotional maturity and understanding of a child, no matter her age. There is an intensely emotional journey to be had, following the young jubilant girl as she deteriorates into the Mata that we see in adulthood.
Throughout the 98-minute runtime, the sense of family is what stands out. Despite having different parents, and only being together for a short time, the sense of family transcends parenthood and is a sense of pride and protection across all of the Māori people.
In a world of division and isolation, Cousins is a reminder of the value of togetherness and family.
Cousins is in cinemas from March 4, 2021