This Way of Life
This Way of Life
| 11 March 2010 (USA)
This Way of Life Trailers

Peter Karena, his wife Colleen, their six children and many horses live almost wild in the stunning beauty of New Zealand's rugged Ruahine Mountains. Until, that is, Peter's escalating battle with his own father has profound consequences for the whole clan.

Reviews
Develiker

terrible... so disappointed.

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Marketic

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

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Helloturia

I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

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Grimossfer

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

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OnewithTheClaws

This is the most beautiful documentary I have watched this year, or indeed ever watched. It shows the true love that holds together an extraordinary family. The Karenas show that money doesn't equal happiness, that through adversity you can gain strength, and that even in the face of that adversity, with love and compassion, you can pull through. I think that Peter, speaking very candidly about his life, his perspective on existence (such as the concept of land ownership), and about what his family means to him is a wonderful example of what it means to be a real man in this country. He's obviously a hard man, but shows he has wisdom, restraint and compassion, and above all a reverence for the world. I have, since first seeing this documentary bought a copy for my own viewing, and have recommended it highly to everyone.

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Elaine Franklin

I really enjoyed the movie , it really warmed my heart to see a family so loyal and loving to each other and the way that they lived on such simple means is very inspiring. We all need to get back in touch with whats around us that being our close family , and the beautiful natural world that is just such a part of ourselves its the ignoring it that causes so much problems in life. the Carena family are a family we need to aspire to be like , loving life and each other so unconditionally and with such open hearts. Really would like to see more of them on film to see how they progress in life. New Zealand is beautiful !!!!!!!!!!

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Sarah Watt

This small, unexpected New Zealand film is simply mesmerizing and an unconditional must-see. No, really. This Way of Life is a documentary tracking the Karena family through a story that is so remarkable, you couldn't make it up. Two parents and six children live happily in relative poverty, making ends meet by working on the land, farming pigs and riding wild horses, and living a truly wholesome "good" life. Their life is simple, and beautiful for it. But as with real life, there is drama along the way, and some of it must have seemed a Godsend to the film-makers, who can't possibly have anticipated what transpired. The interviews are heartfelt and touching, and you cannot help but leave the cinema with a new perspective on life. Highly recommended.

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murphhe

How life can be led if you don't conform to todays norms, and instead embrace a way of life far closer to the real world.Peter and Colleens loving and wise relationship with their children (and many horses), is counterpoised with the very difficult relationship Peter has with his father. They survive distressing trials and tribulations, stay true to their philosophy and raise an amazingly confident, fluent and self reliant tribe of children.Its a visually beautiful and thought provoking film on a number of levels - could I be brave enough to live like that, and when the real world inevitably catches up with the Karena children what will happen then?

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