Chapter 10 Summary: “War”
1. The Siege and the Great Escape
The chapter opens with Ricky and Hec surrounded at Psycho Sam’s. In a nod to the film Home Alone, the music builds tension as they realize they are trapped. After a moment of panic—and Ricky briefly pretending to be dead—they find an old Jeep. Ricky manages to hot-wire the car, proudly telling Hec that he finally has “The Knack.”
2. The Chase: “Us Against the World”
What follows is a massive, over-the-top car chase. The director uses high camera angles and wide shots to show the scale of the pursuit: one tiny Jeep followed by a huge convoy of police cars, helicopters, and even Paula riding in a tank.
- The Contrast: This scene is farcical (absurdly funny). The government has sent an entire army to catch one man and a boy.
- The Handbrake Turn: When they run out of road, Ricky performs a daring handbrake turn and drives straight back towards the police, sending squad cars flying in all directions.
3. The Crash and the Betrayal
The chase ends in a scrapyard where the Jeep finally crashes. Exhausted, Hec decides he has had enough and tells Ricky it’s over. Ricky feels betrayed; he wants to keep fighting for their “family.” In a hilarious and desperate attempt to stay together, Ricky shouts that Hec is “molestering” him to turn the police against Hec. In the chaos, Ricky accidentally shoots Hec in the bum. Both are arrested and taken away in separate police cars, sharing one last look.
4. The Resolution (Falling Action)
The film moves to a courtroom scene where all the characters—the hunters, Psycho Sam, and Paula—give their versions of the story. The truth finally comes out, and the judge sees that Ricky isn’t a criminal.
- Ricky’s New Home: We see Ricky has been fostered by Kahu and TK. The scene ends with him safe in bed with a hot water bottle, showing he finally has the “Normal Life” he glimpsed earlier.
- Hec’s Future: The film cuts to Hec being released from prison. The grey walls and slow pace represent the dullness of the “real world” compared to the vibrant bush.
Film Analysis for Junior Cycle
1. Style: Hyperbole and Farce
The “War” sequence is an example of hyperbole (extreme exaggeration). By putting Paula in a tank, Taika Waititi is mocking how the authorities treated Ricky. It turns a serious police matter into a cartoonish battle, which reflects how Ricky sees the world.
2. Visual Storytelling: The Handbrake Turn
The moment Ricky turns the car around and drives towards the police symbolizes his character. He is no longer running away from his problems; he is facing them head-on.
3. Symbolism: The Scrapyard
Ending the chase in a scrapyard is symbolic. Both Hec and Ricky were seen as “junk” or “discards” by society (Hec as an ex-con, Ricky as a “bad egg”). The crash represents the breaking point where they have to stop being outlaws and start being humans again.
4. The Ending Contrast
The director uses colour and pace to show the difference between freedom and captivity:
- Ricky’s home: Bright, warm, and hopeful.
- Hec’s prison: Cold, grey, and slow. This makes us feel the weight of Hec’s sacrifice for Ricky.
Questions:
- How did the police know where Ricky and Hec were?
- Describe Sam’s reaction to the panic.
- How do Ricky and Hec escape? What does this show about Ricky?
- How does the director use different camera angles throughout the chase scene?
- How does the chase come to an end?
- What happens when Hec tries to hand himself in?
- What does the hot water bottle symbolise at the end of the chapter?
- Is this a satisfactory ending? Explain why/why not?