Te tōrino haere whakamua, whakamuri
Spiral storytelling, Cousins (2021), and Māori screen adaptations
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6697741 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Briar Jane Moana Meads (0009-0000-1401-4524, University of Auckland, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 236-244 |
| Publication date | 2025-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | AlterNative An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1177-1801 • E-ISSN: 1174-1740 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/11771801251337771 |
| OpenAlex | W4411378090 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 13 |
This article explores the 2021 film adaptation of Patricia Grace’s novel Cousins (1992) and the central role of te tōrino (spiral storytelling structure) in both works. Te tōrino reflects Māori (Indigenous Peoples of New Zealand) understandings of time and life, premising non-linear, cyclical, and polyphonic narrative methodologies, and is employed by Grace in her novel. Grace-Smith and Gardiner’s adaptation notably retains this approach, and in doing so, the filmmakers follow the tradition of Fourth Cinema, using Māori principles to guide production, in contrast to mainstream cinema conventions. The Māori cinematic corpus contains eight literature-to-film adaptations, and yet, little research has been undertaken to understand the process or the influence of Māori storytelling histories. The retention of te tōrino in Cousins highlights potential implications for adaptation studies, particularly around the existence of a narrative core, the role of the author, and the application of Western theoretical frameworks on Māori adaptations
Art · Literature · Narrative · Storytelling · Cinema and Media Studies · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies · Mathematics · Media, Gender, and Advertising
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |