Patu [extract], Awatea Films, 1983
Tama Poata shows that the oratorical tradition has street credibility. The tokotoko gives way for the loudspeaker,
the choice of words hint of the speaker's semantic roots.
“ We don’t fear you, we don’t fear you behind your masks, you faceless people.
We don’t fear you with your batons We are in contempt of you, we are in contempt of
the government, we are in contempt of the rugby union of this country. We do not fear you.
We might shed blood on the road, we might show some bruises tonight, but at least we can sleep
with a clear conscience, we will sleep with a clear conscience. Many of you won’t. Some of you
might think you will, but history is on our side, and that’s what matters in the, in the history
of the country, in the history of the world, in building nations. History is always on the side
of the people, not armies, not policemen and not governments. History is always on the side of the people.”
Discussion Points
- Repetition – “We don’t fear you …” Emphatically delivered, strong, forceful manner.
- “We might shed blood” – camera shot of blood on the street.
- Personifies ‘history’
- Parallel construction – “We might …”
- Poata suggests the police can not have a clear conscience. We are in the right, he is saying, and you, the rugby union and the government are not.
- Poignant camera shot of elderly woman watching from the safety of her window.
- Poata eyeballs his opposition and addresses them directly. He is almost issuing a challenge, he steps forward towards them.
- Clearly the emotionally charged situation lends force to his oratory.
