River Queen is an emotionally charged epic drama with an outstanding all-star cast including Samantha Morton (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Mister Lonely) and Kiefer Sutherland (24, The Sentinel).
Framed by the breath-taking natural beauty of New Zealand and set in the 1860’s, RIVER QUEEN is a significant historical foray into the human drama that defined this turbulent time of political, cultural and racial differences.
Based on an original story by New Zealand filmmaker Vincent Ward (The Navigator, What Dreams May Come) River Queen features a realistic shaky hand-held method to bring forth a theme of harsh reality to the powerful storyline.
A young Irishwoman Sarah O'Brien (Samantha Morton) brings her family into disrepute when she falls pregnant to a handsome Maori man, who tragically passes away from illness before the baby is born.
Abandoned by her father, a soldier in the British colonial army, Sarah finds herself all alone to face impending motherhood and life as an outcast in a community wrought by conflict between the indigenous Maori people and the marauding colonists.
Seven years on, Sarah’s young son, Boy, is suddenly kidnapped by his Maori grandfather who is eager for him to return to his native roots.
Devastated, Sarah’s life becomes a search for her son with the help of her only friend, a disillusioned, broken-down soldier, Doyle (Kiefer Sutherland).
She discovers her son living in a local Maori village with his grandfather Te Kai Po (Temuera Morrison). Slowly she begins to reconcile with her estranged son (Rawiri Pene) and finds herself increasingly drawn by the tranquility of village life and the sense of community and love she has been pining for.
Using medical skills she learned from her father, Sarah wins the trust of the Maori tribe when she heals the chief.
To her surprise she soon finds herself falling for Boy’s uncle, Wiremu (Cliff Curtis). Just when all seems well, her precious new world is turned upside down as war is declared between the Maori natives and the British colonists. Suddenly Sarah finds herself caught in the crossfire and is torn between loyalty to her new family and the memories of her father and colonial upbringing.
With her world in turmoil once more, Sarah must find the strength and courage to battle through this turbulent time of treachery and politics.
Now Sarah must choose where she really belongs; will she return to her European roots, or will she follow her desire for the Maori way of life?
Visually stunning with a powerful narrative and fervent performances from an all-star cast including Samantha Morton and Kiefer Sutherland, Vincent Ward’s River Queen is a cinematic masterpiece available to own and rent on DVD from 9th June 2008.