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Overview
This poster advertises the theatrical release in New Zealand of Taika Waititi’s hugely successful film Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016). Wilderpeople was based on Barry Crump’s novel Wild Pork and Watercress (1986).
In the film, Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) is a young delinquent who is placed into foster care with the loving Bella Faulkner (Rima Te Wiata) and her taciturn husband Hector (Hec) who live on a remote farm. When Bella dies, Ricky runs away and gets lost in the bush. He is found by Hec, and eventually after mishaps and finding they’re being pursued by the authorities, they agree to stick together and disappear into the wilds. The film tracks their transformations as individuals and how new family / whānau are formed along the way. With a light and empathetic touch, the film addresses serious themes: youth at risk (delinquency, the welfare system, poverty, mental health and suicide), man-alone tropes and ideas of masculinity, rural versus urban ways of being, race and cultural perspectives, second chances and redemption.
The poster's design is a classical composite film poster style, where multiple images of the characters create a dynamic whole. The characters are presented in their signature clothing, with additional details alluding to some of the film's storylines (e.g. the policecar careening out of control at the bottom of the image). Such composite imagery promises viewers a range of experiences - in this case heroes, rogues, drama, violence, car chases, and beautiful landscapes.
The poster is headed by Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) as the largest portrait, wearing his hoodie and 'skux' cap. Hector Faulkner (Sam Neil) is to his left, wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a gun muzzle and dog behind. Below are the two enforcement characters, alongside Bella Faulkner (Rima Te Wiata) wearing her signature cat face jersey. A suite of smaller characters finish the image, including a teenage girl named Kahu who is pictured riding a horse. Although a smaller part, Kahu is important in the film because she and her father provide refuge for Ricky and embrace him into their family.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople became New Zealand's highest grossing film, and achieved many critical accolades around the world. Empire magazine named it the best film of 2016 (https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-films-2016/).