Rūrangi review – empathetic and lyrical portrait of small-town life

A decade is a long time to not go home. For Caz (Elz Carrad), the decision has been fuelled by self-preservation and not a definitive choice. After transitioning while away, Caz’s father (Kirk Torrance) no longer recognises his son's voice down the phone and people from his past don’t know him when he appears on their doorsteps. Maxwell Currie’s Rūrangi is about reacquaintance and reconnection in all its fiddly and daunting forms, a touching character study hinged on Carrad’s resonant lead performance.

Initially a five-part web series that now culminates in feature film format, Rūrangi offers an understated look into the homecoming experience of a transgender activist. It's a film that avoids the coming-of-age trappings so many films centred on young transgender characters rely on, and benefits from having transgender creatives at the helm. Caz is no longer in search of belonging – he has an accepting community in Auckland. Instead, he returns home to the conservative, dairy farming community of Rūrangi, New Zealand to reacquaint himself with his roots.

Small-town small-mindedness has long served as the conflict of many LGBTQ+ dramas. In the case of Rūrangi, a plethora of reintroductions span anger and awkwardness. The former is punctuated by Caz’s father driving him to his mother’s grave, furious his child was absent in bidding farewell to their loved one. The latter is short-lived, as Caz’s former best friend Anahera (Awhina-Rose Ashby) is quick to provide a supportive welcome, while ex-boyfriend Jem (Arlo Green) stumbles over feelings that still linger with an endearing amount of charm.

Bolstered by a lived-in performance from Carrad, Rūrangi’s focus on estranged relationships is full of tactile nuances that add impressive, fleshed out details to the chorus of characters. Although Caz’s sense of self is the most pertinent portrayal of identity, there is an underscoring of identity politics that overcome expectation. “You’ve missed some pretty big stuff…” Anahera remarks in response to Caz’s bewilderment that his father has become an environmental activist. Meanwhile, Anahera desires to be more in touch with her Indigenous heritage and signs up to Māori language lessons. “Who benefits from our shame?” It's a question posed by a teacher to a student but, ultimately, a conundrum facing all the characters in the ultimately warm and empathetic Rūrangi.

Rūrangi is released in UK cinemas on 25 February.