This is a family that lives in New Zealand. The parents, Rena and Jake, were members of the local native tribe until the elders did not approve of their marriage, because Renewas the "Special one" of the tribe, an honor bestowed on a girl once a generation, almost like being a holy being or a princess in the tribe. The husband's family came from a long line of slaves from the tribe, so the elders did not approve of the Chosen One and a slave being together. She spited the tribe and the both left to get married. (this is all back story told throughout the movie)
Jake Heke, the husband, has a horrible temper, especially when he drinks. He gets angry easily and after consuming alcohol he gets violent. Often after a night of drinking at the bar, Jake takes the party home where dozens of people flood their home and drink into the early morning, eating up all the food, despite the fact that Jake and Rena are poor and have five children to feed. Any time Rena tries to break up the party, Jake brutaly beats her up. While the violence is only directed at Rena, it has trickled down its effect on the kids:
The eldest son, is rebellious and is joining a local gang of punks that tattoo their whole bodies, including their faces, and often hang out in junk yards and places to strip cars. The next oldest son, Boogie, is constantly getting arrested for breaking laws, and during the recent court session has been sent to a boy's home. Rena misses the court date because of how badly beat up she was the night before.
The oldest daughter, 13 year old Grace, has taken on a secondary maternal role in the family taking care of her younger siblings, and escorting Boggie to his court dates. Her best friend lives across town in a car whom she goes to for comfort and escape from her family's violent home. Even though her best friend is homeless, she loves him and visits him often to read to him another story she has written in her journal.
While Boogie initially resists being in the boy's home, the program director is a strong man who inspires Boogie to look within for inner strength and teaches him the old ways of the tribe, including their traditional chants and martial art: Mau rkau. Through the discipline of the boy's school, Boggie starts becoming more responsible. The family planned a trip to rent a car to go up to see Boogie, but Jake stops at the bar and decides to get drunk instead. [lovely priorities]
Back at home, nothing has changed and the nightly loud drunken parties still continue. One night, one of Jake's best friends, sneaks into Grace's room and rapes her. He threatens her not to tell anyone. Traumatized about what happened and not knowing who she can turn to, she closes up inside, even pushes away her best friend. Shortly after the rape, she hangs herself in the backyard. [most powerful part of the movie, I was crying at this point]. Rena knows that the violence in the family caused Grace to kill herself but she does not know about the rape. Devastated, she takes Grace back to the tribe to be buried traditionally. The funeral brings all of the kids back together in unity and in Grace's memory.
After the funeral, Rena reads Grace's journal and finds out that Jake's friend raped Grace. Outraged, she goes to the bar to confront Jake and the friend. Jake doesn't believe Rena until she shows him the journal. Outraged, Jake beats the life out of the friend, but Rena knows it's too late and decides to leave Jake.
