MAORI BOY GENIUS

“Pietra Brettkelly may well be profiling New Zealand's future Prime Minister.” - Variety

In Maori Boy Genius Pietra Brettkelly (The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins, MIFF 08) explores the life of gifted Maori teen Ngaa Rauuira Pumanawawhiti, who's trying to balance his academic aspirations with his cultural duties.

From an early age, those around him have believed Pumanawawhiti is destined for great things and it's not hard to see why. Wise beyond his years, he started his first degree at 13, but as his family struggles to find the money for him to attend classes at Yale University, he also finds himself struggling - for the first time in his life - to live up to his own and everybody else's expectations.

An extremely affable, sweetly funny coming-of-age story, Brettkelly's documentary is inspirational in content and beautiful in technique, leaving you wondering what Pumanawawhiti's next big step will be; what will he do with all that intelligence and charisma?

D/P Pietra Brettkelly WS Cinephil L English, Maori w/English subtitles TD HD Cam/2012