Savage Play

In the 1880s a New Zealand rugby team, made up of aboriginal players, tours England and Scotland. Sir Ian Richardson plays an Earl whose granddaughter Charlotte (Rene Owen) falls in love with one of the players, at a time when inter-racial romance involving a member of the aristocracy was taboo. The Earl's objection to his daughter's relationship is sincere and practical. He does not display his anger so much as his concern that their love affair is sure to bring strife and unhappiness to them both. We are provided with an insight of life on the road for the aboriginal rugby players, life behind the scenes at a English burlesque theater and, the life of the British aristocracy both at their country and their city estates. The movie is set in England and in New Zealand and the camera work in both countries is often stunningly effective. My only criticism was the lack of twists and turns in the plot that would have provided more suspense and drama. The movie is made for TV and comes in a package of three video tapes.

This was an amazing series. It encaptured greatly the colonial feel of New Zealand, and the early blending of two cultures as they start to inter-marry and form a new nation. Wonderfully moving performance by Rena Owen. The costumes and the sets were just fantastic.