The trailer for “Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds” has arrived, offering a first glimpse at the documentary ahead of its nationwide cinema release in New Zealand on May 1 (AUS/ROW dates to be announced soon).
Directed by Ursula Grace-Williams (“Zealandia,” “Still Here,” “The King”), the film follows Williams over four years as he creates his first te reo Māori album, “Te Whare Tīwekaweka,” out April 4.
The doco gives a behind-the-scenes look at Williams’ most ambitious project yet – crafting an album in te reo – and the personal challenges along the way. It weaves together his worlds, from international tours and recording sessions to home life in Ōhinehou (Lyttelton). There are raw moments, too, like his return to his marae in Tōrere with his dad, decades after his last visit.
Williams admits he was hesitant about being filmed. “There were definitely periods of reckoning, but the trust grew and grew as we moved forward. Ursula has an incredible creative eye for storytelling. I had faith that she would be able to tell the story in a nuanced way,” he says.
Grace-Williams is excited to share the film: “Marlon has such an infectious energy that’s fun to be around. He’s thoughtful, but also very silly, funny and charismatic. I think audiences will enjoy learning more about this side of him.”
Though she doesn’t have whakapapa Māori, Grace-Williams, who is of Samoan descent, understands the weight of losing an ancestral language. “I knew he would be making something very special that needed to be documented as an historical moment,” she says.
The film spotlights the connections in Williams’ life, his album collaborator and rapper KOMMI, his whānau, and longtime band The Yarra Benders. It also captures his bond with New Zealand pop star Ella Yelich-O’Connor (Lorde).
“Te Whare Tīwekaweka” takes inspiration from the Māori proverb “Ko te reo Māori, he matapihi ki Te Ao Māori,” meaning “The Māori language is a window to the Māori world.” Williams says the process of creating these songs offered him a way to express himself – his joys, sorrows, and humour – in a way that felt deeply personal while also connecting him to his ancestors (tīpuna) and homeland (whenua).
“Te Whare Tīwekaweka” came together over five years, during which Williams connected with family, friends, and his hometown of Lyttelton after years spent traveling and performing around the world. Collaborating with his touring band The Yarra Benders, co-producer Mark Perkins (Merk), the He Waka Kōtuia singers, and even featuring Lorde on one track, the album blends folk, country and bluegrass with pop and traditional Māori rhythms.
The album’s lead single, “Aua Atu Rā,” is out now (listen below).