The story captures the devastating "ripples" of domestic violence through the lives of the five Heke children.

The film centers on the volatile marriage between , a woman of noble Māori lineage, and Jake , a charismatic but hyper-violent man who has rejected his cultural roots.

It became New Zealand's highest-grossing domestic film at the time. Story & Themes

It sparked major national conversations in New Zealand about domestic abuse and social inequality.